Sharks nocturnal

Colclough's Shark

Brachaelurus colcloughi

A rare and elusive treasure of the Australian coastline, the Colclough's Shark is a master of the midnight reef. With its unique barbels and striking juvenile patterns, this small carpetshark offers a fascinating glimpse into the biodiversity of shallow inshore waters.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Grows to a maximum length of 76 cm (30 in)

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Colors

Juveniles are striking with a high-contrast black-and-white banded pattern; adults transition to a muted, uniform brownish or blue-grey color.

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Key Features

Pair of long barbels with posterior skin flaps near the mouth
Stocky body with a wide, slightly flattened head
Two dorsal fins of unequal size positioned far back on the body
Large space between the anal fin and the base of the tail fin

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern nocturnal

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Peak hours 9 PM - 3 AM

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Season Year-round

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Diet A generalist predator that feeds on small bottom-dwelling bony fish, crustaceans like crabs and shrimp, and various mollusks and sea anemones found in reef crevices.

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Habitat Shallow inshore waters, including rocky reefs, seagrass beds, and occasionally muddy-bottomed estuaries along the coast of Queensland and New South Wales.

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Behavior

The Colclough's Shark, also known as the Bluegrey Carpetshark, is a sluggish and primarily nocturnal bottom-dweller. During the daylight hours, they are masters of concealment, often wedged deep inside rocky crevices or hidden under ledges in shallow reefs. They are remarkably docile and are often referred to as 'blind sharks' by locals because they have a habit of closing their thick lower eyelids when removed from the water.

These sharks are solitary by nature and do not form schools. While they are harmless to humans and generally ignore divers, they should be treated with respect as they can deliver a defensive nip if handled or provoked. Their movement is slow and deliberate, as they 'crawl' along the seabed using their muscular pectoral fins to navigate tight spaces in search of prey.

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Camera Tips

Capturing the Colclough's Shark requires an underwater setup, ideally a waterproof action camera or a trail camera housed in a specialized marine casing. Because these sharks inhabit very shallow inshore waters, you can often find success by placing your camera in large, deep tide pools or near the edges of rocky piers and jetties at low tide. Position the camera on a weighted base or a small tripod to prevent it from being moved by the surge or tide.

Since this species is strictly nocturnal, lighting is your biggest challenge. Use a camera with high-quality infrared (IR) capabilities or a low-intensity, wide-angle underwater video light. If using white light, consider a red filter; many marine species are less sensitive to red spectrum light, which will allow you to capture natural foraging behavior without startling the shark. Aim the camera toward the mouth of a rocky crevice or a patch of seagrass where the shark is likely to emerge at dusk.

To attract a Colclough's Shark to your camera's field of view, use a scent-based lure rather than loose bait. A mesh 'chum bag' filled with oily fish like pilchards or mullet, secured firmly in front of the lens, will create a scent trail that draws the shark out of hiding. Ensure the bait is secured so the shark—or more aggressive scavengers—can't swim away with it.

Set your camera to record video bursts of 30-60 seconds rather than still photos. These sharks move slowly, and a video will better capture their unique 'walking' gait and the way they use their barbels to sense prey. If your camera has a 'time-lapse' mode, this can also be effective for monitoring a reef patch over an entire tide cycle to identify their preferred transit routes.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Colclough's Shark.

Blind Shark

The Blind Shark has an anal fin that sits much closer to the tail fin and lacks the white-banded patterns seen in juvenile Colclough's sharks.

Brownbanded Bamboo Shark

Features a much more elongated body and tail, with dorsal fins that are larger and more prominent than those of the Colclough's Shark.

Frequently Asked Questions

Colclough's Shark are strictly nocturnal, meaning they are most active during the middle of the night, typically between 9 PM and 3 AM, when they emerge from rocky crevices to hunt.

The best way to attract these sharks is by using a scent-based lure, such as oily fish (pilchards or sardines) inside a mesh bag secured in front of an underwater camera near shallow rocky reefs.

Their diet consists of small reef fish, crustaceans like crabs and shrimp, and various soft-bodied invertebrates like sea anemones found on the seafloor.

They are endemic to northeastern Australia and can be found in shallow waters near coastal suburban areas in Queensland and New South Wales, though they are considered uncommon and rarely seen by the public.

You can distinguish them by the position of the anal fin; in the Colclough's Shark, there is a distinct and sizeable space between the anal fin and the start of the tail fin, whereas in the Blind Shark, the anal fin reaches the base of the tail.

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