Hemiscyllium halmahera ( lat.Hemiscyllium freycineti ) - a new species of the family of Asian feline sharks of the Wobbegong race order . They live in the western part of the Pacific Ocean. The maximum recorded size is 70 cm. These sharks have an elongated yellow-brown body, covered with numerous dark spots. Above the pectoral fins there are characteristic round marks in the form of an β epaulet β. They breed by laying eggs. Not of interest to commercial fishing [1] .
| Hemiscyllium halmahera |
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| Scientific classification |
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| No rank : | Bilateral symmetrical |
| Gender: | Indo-Australian Cat Sharks |
| View: | Hemiscyllium halmahera |
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| International scientific name |
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Hemiscyllium halmahera Allen, GR, Erdmann, MV & Dudgeon, CL, 2013 [1] |
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The holotype is a 68.1 m long male, discovered in May 2012 near Halmacher Island at a depth of 10 m (00 Β° 50.958 'N 127 Β° 18.717' E). Paratyp is a female 65.6 cm long, caught there and then. The species name is given at the place of detection of individuals of the new species.
Hemiscyllium halmahera live in a limited area off the coast of Ternate Island, Indonesia, to a depth of 10 m.
There is no hood on the head from the snout to the gills. On the interorbital space there are no more than 10 large dark spots. On the ventral surface of the head are two large markings. In young sharks, a light brown body is covered by 7-8 saddle-shaped dark marks. In adults, saddle marks become dull, the body is covered with numerous groups of dark and white spots.
These sharks have a rather elongated thin body with a short snout; the pre-oral distance is less than 3% of the body length. The nostrils are located at the tip of the snout. They are framed by short antennae, the length of which is less than 1.3% of the body length. The mouth is located in front of the eyes and shifted closer to the tip of the snout. The lower labial folds do not connect on the chin with a skin fold. The pre-gill distance is less than 13% of the body length. Behind the eyes there are splashes . The distance between the anus and the beginning of the base of the anal fin is over 38% of the body length. The pectoral and ventral fins are thick and muscular. There are no spines at the base of the dorsal fins. Dorsal fins of the same size, shifted back. The base of the first dorsal fin is located behind the base of the ventral fins. The caudal peduncle is very long. The long anal fin is located directly in front of the caudal fin. The caudal fin is asymmetrical, elongated, there is a ventral notch at the edge of the upper lobe, the lower lobe is undeveloped.
Hemiscyllium halmahera move along the sand with the help of pectoral and abdominal fins [1] .
The species is not subject to commercial fishing. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has not yet assessed the conservation status of this species.
