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The epaulette shark, Hemiscyllium ocellatum, is a bamboo shark in the family Hemiscylliidae found in the western Pacific Ocean off Papua New Guinea and northern Australia, possibly occurring in Malaysia, Sumatra (Indonesia), and the Solomon Islands between latitudes 1° S and 26° S, to depths of 50 m. Its length is up to 1.07 m. The epaulette shark is commonly found in the shallow water of coral reefs, often in tide pools. When feeding, it will walk on the bottom of the tide pool or feeding area in search of prey. The caudal fin has a pronounced subterminal notch but is without a ventral lobe. It feeds mainly on benthic invertebrates. Reproduction is oviparous. It survives well in aquariums. It has the ability to survive low oxygen conditions by switching off non-essential brain functions - apparently an adaptation for hunting in tide-pools with low oxygen.
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