Fish Active day and night

Whiskery Shark

Furgaleus macki

iNaturalist Wikipedia

Meet the 'whiskered' specialist of the Australian reefs. This unique houndshark is a master of the seafloor, easily identified by its distinctive nasal barbels and humpbacked silhouette.

0 Sightings

0 Habitats

Quick Identification

straighten

Size

Typically reaches 1.2 to 1.5 metres (3.9 to 4.9 feet), with a maximum length of 1.6 metres (5.2 feet).

palette

Colors

Brownish-gray upper body with a lighter, creamy-white underside; juveniles feature dark saddles and blotches that fade into a uniform color with age.

visibility

Key Features

Distinctive long nasal barbels (whiskers) near the nostrils
Two dorsal fins of nearly equal size located toward the back
Stout, thick-set body with a visible 'humpbacked' profile
Small, sharp teeth specialized for gripping octopuses

When You’ll See Them

schedule

Activity pattern Active day and night

brightness_5

Peak hours 6-9 AM, 5-8 PM

calendar_month

Season Year-round

restaurant

Diet A specialized cephalopod hunter, focusing almost exclusively on octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish, though it occasionally eats small bony fish.

park

Habitat Prefers rocky reefs, seagrass meadows, and kelp-covered seafloors on the continental shelf.

public Geographic range

Where Does the Whiskery Shark Live?

The Whiskery Shark is a proud Australian local, found nowhere else in the world. Its range extends across the southern half of the continent, stretching from the tropical-temperate transition zone off North West Cape in Western Australia, down around the southwestern coast, and eastward through the Great Australian Bight to the Bass Strait. It is most commonly found in the nutrient-rich, temperate waters of the Western Australian shelf.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

1 Countries

1.2M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

AU Australia

41

eco

iNaturalist / Verified observation data

42 observations

1 countries

View on iNaturalist open_in_new

Explore more Fish arrow_forward

Behavior

The Whiskery Shark is a specialized bottom-dweller that spends its life patrolling the rugged seafloors of the Australian continental shelf. Unlike many of its more streamlined relatives, this shark is built for maneuverability among rocks and weeds rather than high-speed chases. It is a solitary species that uses its sensitive nasal barbels to 'taste' the water and detect the scent of prey hiding in deep crevices and kelp forests.

These sharks are remarkably docile and pose no threat to humans, often ignoring divers or moving away slowly when approached. They are most active during the twilight hours of dawn and dusk, though they can be found foraging at any time of day or night. Their social life is limited, though they are known to congregate in specific nursery areas where females give birth to live young after a gestation period of about 7 to 9 months.

photo_camera EverydayEarth exclusive

Camera Tips

To capture the Whiskery Shark on an underwater camera, focus your efforts on the transition zones where rocky reefs meet sandy patches or seagrass beds. Using a Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) system is the most effective method. Because these sharks are cephalopod specialists, the best lure is a mesh bag filled with oily fish or, even better, fresh octopus or squid offcuts. The scent trail will draw them out from the reef and right in front of your lens.

Mount your camera at a low angle, approximately 20-40 centimeters from the seabed, facing slightly upward. This positioning captures the shark's unique 'humpbacked' silhouette and clearly shows the diagnostic nasal barbels as it investigates the bait. If you are filming in the early morning or late evening—their peak activity times—ensure you use a wide-angle light source. Red lights are preferable as they are less likely to startle the shark than bright white LEDs.

Stability is key when dealing with the surge and currents of the Australian shelf. Use a weighted base or a tripod tethered to a fixed point to prevent your camera from shifting. Because these sharks are stout and can be quite curious, they may occasionally bump the camera; ensure your housing is rugged and the mount is secure. Set your camera to record in short intervals (2-3 minutes) triggered by motion if possible, or use a continuous loop to catch their slow, methodical approach.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Whiskery Shark.

Gummy Shark

Lacks nasal barbels and has a first dorsal fin that is noticeably larger than the second.

School Shark

Features a more slender, streamlined body and a distinctively notched lower lobe on the tail fin.

Draughtboard Shark

Has a much broader head and a highly variegated 'checkerboard' color pattern that persists into adulthood.

Browse all Fish arrow_forward

Frequently Asked Questions

Whiskery Sharks are active both day and night, but they show a significant increase in activity during crepuscular hours—specifically dawn and dusk—when their prey is most vulnerable.

The most effective way to attract a Whiskery Shark is using a bait bag containing squid or octopus. Their highly developed sense of smell and specialized barbels allow them to track these scents from a distance.

They are cephalopod specialists. Over 95% of their diet consists of octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish, which they grip with specialized small, sharp teeth.

While they don't enter shallow 'backyard' canals, they are very common in the coastal waters off Perth and other southern Australian cities, residing just offshore in rocky reef and seagrass habitats.

The easiest way is to look for the 'whiskers' (nasal barbels) and the dorsal fins. The Whiskery Shark has long barbels and two dorsal fins of almost equal size, whereas the Gummy Shark lacks barbels and has a significantly larger first dorsal fin.

Record Whiskery Shark at your habitat

Connect a camera to start building your own species record — AI identifies every visitor automatically.

Join free Identify a photo