Chiloscyllium plagiosum
Encounter Rate
Spotting Difficulty
Best Season
Year-round
Depth Range
1-25 meters
The whitetip bamboo shark, also known as the whitespotted bamboo shark, is a small, docile bottom-dwelling shark frequently encountered on night dives in Komodo National Park. Reaching a maximum length of about 95 centimetres, this harmless carpet shark spends its days hiding in reef crevices and under coral overhangs, emerging at night to slowly patrol the reef floor in search of prey. Its slender body, rounded snout, and barbels near the mouth give it a distinctly different appearance from the reef sharks, and its brown body is covered in a beautiful pattern of dark and light bands with white spots that fades as the shark matures. In Komodo, whitetip bamboo sharks are a common night dive find, often seen resting on the sand or gliding along the reef base. Their gentle nature and small size make them approachable, though as with all marine animals, touching should be avoided.
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Average Size
55-75cm
Size Range
30-95cm
Maximum Size
95cm
Feeds on small fish, shrimp, crabs, and worms found on the reef floor. Uses barbels near its mouth to detect prey buried in sand and rubble.
The whitetip bamboo shark, also known as the whitespotted bamboo shark, is a small, docile bottom-dwelling shark frequently encountered on night dives in Komodo National Park. Reaching a maximum length of about 95 centimetres, this harmless carpet shark spends its days hiding in reef crevices and under coral overhangs, emerging at night to slowly patrol the reef floor in search of prey. Its slender body, rounded snout, and barbels near the mouth give it a distinctly different appearance from the reef sharks, and its brown body is covered in a beautiful pattern of dark and light bands with white spots that fades as the shark matures. In Komodo, whitetip bamboo sharks are a common night dive find, often seen resting on the sand or gliding along the reef base. Their gentle nature and small size make them approachable, though as with all marine animals, touching should be avoided.
This species plays an important role in the marine ecosystem of Komodo National Park. Responsible diving practices help protect these animals and their habitat for future generations.
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Not at all. They are small, docile, and completely harmless to divers. Their mouth is adapted for crushing small invertebrates, not biting large animals. They are one of the most gentle shark species.
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