Bluegrey carpetshark

Bluegrey carpetshark
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Chondrichthyes
Subclass:	Elasmobranchii
Subdivision:	Selachimorpha
Order:	Orectolobiformes
Family:	Brachaeluridae
Genus:	Brachaelurus
Species:	B. colcloughi
Binomial name
Brachaelurus colcloughi (J. D. Ogilby, 1908)
Range of the bluegrey carpetshark
Synonyms
Heteroscyllium colcloughi J. D. Ogilby, 1908

The bluegrey carpetshark (Brachaelurus colcloughi) or Colclough's shark, is an uncommon species of carpet shark endemic to shallow inshore waters off northeastern Australia. It is one of the two extant members of the family Brachaeluridae. The bluegrey carpetshark has a stocky body with a wide, slightly flattened head, dorsally placed eyes, and a pair of long barbels with posterior skin flaps. It has large pectoral fins, two dorsal fins of unequal size placed far back on the body, and a sizeable space between the anal fin and the base of the caudal fin. Growing to 76 cm (30 in) long, this species has a black-and-white colour pattern as a juvenile, which largely fades with age such as that adults are brownish.

When removed from the water, the bluegrey carpetshark will close its eyes like the related blind shark (Brachaelurus waddi). It feeds on benthic invertebrates and bony fishes, and is aplacental viviparous with females bearing litters of 6–7 pups. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed this species as Vulnerable, given its rarity and restricted occurrence in heavily utilized waters. It is taken in small numbers by commercial and recreational fisheries, and for the aquarium trade.