Origin
Native to the Indo-West Pacific, especially around Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Common in sandy flats, reef margins, and lagoons.

Visual & Functional Appeal
Juveniles feature bold, dark brown bands across a creamy beige body. As adults, markings fade to a subtle gray-brown. The elongated body and cat-like fins give it a distinctive bottom-gliding profile, making it a captivating centerpiece for shark-focused displays.

Purpose
Primarily ornamental and educational. Functions as a biological ambassador for reef biodiversity and benthic shark behavior. Also stirs substrate lightly, helping prevent dead zones in large systems.

Importance
One of the most common small sharks in the marine trade. Demonstrates unique adaptations like spiracle breathing and benthic locomotion. Suitable for long-term care in dedicated systems but not a fit for traditional reef tanks.

Included Resources
Requires a large tank with soft, fine sand (no sharp gravel). Needs stable heat, salinity, and oxygenation. Rocks should be secure and smooth. Lid must be tight-fitting—species can climb glass. Supplemental moonlight lighting enhances natural behavior.

Best Use Cases
Best in public aquaria, shark-only marine systems, or very large reef flats (without inverts). Not coral-safe. Can be housed with large, slow tankmates. Avoid tanks with small or fast fish.

Conservation Context
Wild populations face threats from habitat degradation and bycatch. Captive breeding efforts are underway in public aquariums. Promotes reef protection through educational outreach and display programs.

Ideal Aquatic Animals
• Large tangs and angelfish (non-aggressive types)
• Other benthic sharks (in massive tanks only)
• Avoid inverts, small fish, and aggressive species

Region (A)
• Latitude: 6.5244° N
• Longitude: 100.2239° E
(Kedah, Malaysia – Andaman Sea coast)

Region (B)
• Latitude: -6.1751° S
• Longitude: 106.8650° E
(Jakarta Bay, Indonesia – Java Sea fringe)