Home · Hemiscylliidae · Hasselt's bamboo shark
Hasselt's bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium hasseltii) — Hemiscylliidae

Hasselt's bamboo shark

Chiloscyllium hasseltii

The Hasselt's bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium hasseltii) is a saltwater fish of the family Hemiscylliidae that grows up to 61 cm.

Length
61 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–12.0 m
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Myanmar, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Viet Nam and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Want the complete picture on the Hasselt's bamboo shark?

Get the app

Description

Hasselt's bamboo shark is a small bamboo shark (Hemiscylliidae) from shallow coastal waters of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 60 cm and has a slender, brownish body bearing dark crossbars in young fish, and barbels at the nostrils. As a nocturnal bottom-dweller it crawls over sand and reef bottoms with its pectoral fins and searches for small crustaceans, molluscs and worms. It lays egg capsules. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Hasselt's bamboo shark?

The Hasselt's bamboo shark has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Hasselt's bamboo shark live?

The Hasselt's bamboo shark lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Asia: Myanmar, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Viet Nam and others

How big does the Hasselt's bamboo shark get?

The Hasselt's bamboo shark grows to a maximum of about 61 cm.

Is the Hasselt's bamboo shark dangerous to humans?

No, the Hasselt's bamboo shark is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Hasselt's bamboo shark edible?

Yes, the Hasselt's bamboo shark is commonly eaten.

More photos

Hasselt's bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium hasseltii) — Hemiscylliidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) cheahhl814, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Hasselt's bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium hasseltii) — Hemiscylliidae — 3
iNaturalist (no rights reserved)
Hasselt's bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium hasseltii) — Hemiscylliidae — 4
Naturalis Biodiversity Center (CC0 1.0) via GBIF
Hasselt's bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium hasseltii) — Hemiscylliidae — 5
Naturalis Biodiversity Center (CC0 1.0) via GBIF
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Hasselt's bamboo shark?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Hasselt's bamboo shark is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Hasselt's bamboo shark sourced
Scientific name
Chiloscyllium hasseltii
Family
Hemiscylliidae
Other names
Hasselt's Bambooshark; Hasselt's bambooshark; Indonesian bamboo shark; Indonesian bambooshark; Catshark verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
61.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Barbels
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
12.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Myanmar, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Viet Nam and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Chiloscyllium

More from the family Hemiscylliidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Hasselt's bamboo shark?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Hasselt's bamboo shark is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Hasselt's bamboo shark? Get the app