FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes Western

Hemiscylliidae 1251
2a. Body and tail very slender; length of anal fin from origin to free tip subequal to length
of hypural caudal-fin lobe from lower caudal-fin origin to subterminal notch (Fig. 3) . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chiloscyllium indicum
2b. Body and tail moderately slender to relatively stout; length of anal fin considerably
shorter than hypural caudal-fin lobe (Figs 4 and 5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . → 3
3a. Body with lateral dermal ridges; young and adults with transverse dark bands and
numerous white spots (Fig. 4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chiloscyllium plagiosum
3b. Body without lateral dermal ridges; adults usually without colour pattern, dark transverse
bands in young only . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . → 4
Fig. 3 Chiloscyllium indicum Fig. 4 Chiloscyllium plagiosum
4a. Dorsal fins larger than pelvic fins,
with projecting free rear tips
(Fig. 5) . . . . . . . Chiloscyllium punctatum
4b. Dorsal fins smaller than pelvic
fins, without projecting free rear
tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . → 5
5a. First to second dorsal-fin distance usually more than 9.3% of total length; first dorsal-fin
height more than 6.6% of total length; second dorsal-fin height usually more than 5.8%
of total length; dark bands of juveniles not outlined in black (Fig. 6) . . . . . Chiloscyllium griseum
5b. First to second dorsal-fin distance less than 9.3% of total length; first dorsal-fin height
less than 6.6% of total length; second dorsal-fin height usually less than 5.8% of total
length; dark bands of juveniles outlined in black (Fig. 7) . . . . . . . . . . . . Chiloscyllium hasselti
juvenile
Fig. 6 Chiloscyllium griseum
6a. Head and snout with an abrupt
black hood; body with conspicuous
large white spots (Fig. 8) . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . Hemiscyllium strahani
6b. Head and snout light, without a
black hood but with conspicuous
black spots above pectoral fins;
body with light spots inconspicuous
or absent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . → 7
Fig. 5 Chiloscyllium punctatum
juvenile
Fig. 7 Chiloscyllium hasselti
Fig. 8 Hemiscyllium strahani