Hemiscyllium galei

Hemiscyllium galei, the Cenderawasih epaulette shark, is a species of bamboo shark in the family Hemiscylliidae. Together with H. henryi, it was only scientifically described in 2008 by Gerald R. Allen and Mark V. Erdmann.^[2][3] At present, H. galei is only known from depths of 2 to 4 metres (6 ft 7 in to 13 ft 1 in) at reefs in the Cenderawasih Bay in West Papua, Indonesia.^[2] The largest known specimen was 56.8 centimetres (22.4 in) long.^[2] It can be separated from its relatives (e.g., H. freycineti) by the combination of seven relatively large dark spots along the side of the body (between the abdomen and tail-base), white markings on the edge of its dark dorsal saddles and other scattered white spots on the upper side.^[2]

Hemiscyllium galei
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Chondrichthyes
Subclass:	Elasmobranchii
Division:	Selachii
Order:	Orectolobiformes
Family:	Hemiscylliidae
Genus:	Hemiscyllium
Species:	H. galei
Binomial name
Hemiscyllium galei G. R. Allen & Erdmann, 2008[2]
Range of the Cenderwasih epaulette shark

Etymology

The shark is named in honor of underwater photographer and shark enthusiast Jeffrey Gale, who bid successfully to help conserve the species at a charity auction, and who then financially supported Conservation International's efforts to preserve its habitat.^[4]