4358. The Epaulette Shark gives birth.

WILDLIFE SINGAPORE EDUCATIONAL VIDEO. 
Dr Sing Kong Yuen. 28 December 2025

1. Why is this fish name as the Epaulette Shark?

 

 Epaulette is a type of ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used as insignia of rank by armed forces and other organizations

Why is this fish called epaulette shark? 

Can you see two black spots with white margins  behind each pectoral fin of the epaulette shark? They are reminiscent of military epaulettes. Hence, the name epaulette shark.

 2. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed the epaulette shark as of Least Concern. It is not captured by either commercial or recreational fisheries, and is minimally affected by collection for the aquarium trade and fishery 

 

3. Oviparous.  

The Epaulette shark is oviparous. She produces young by means of eggs which are hatched after they have been laid by the parents, as in birds. In this video, you will see an egg laid! 

4. Location of this shark.
You may see her in the Singapore Oceanarium.

 

 

 

 No, the epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum) is not viviparous (live-bearing). It is, in fact, oviparous, which means it reproduces by laying eggs

 

 

• Egg-Laying Habit: Females deposit pairs of egg capsules (usually two at a time) on the seafloor, often tucking them into crevices in coral reefs.
• Production Volume: A female can produce between 20 and 50 eggs per year, with pairs of eggs deposited every 14 days or so between August and December.
• Development: The eggs have tough, leathery, fibrous cases that help them entangle on the seafloor. They typically hatch after a gestation period of approximately 120 to 130 days.
• Hatchlings: The newborn pups are fully independent immediately upon hatching, measuring roughly 14 to 16 cm (about 5.5 to 6.5 inches) long. 

While many shark species are viviparous (giving birth to live young with a placenta) or ovoviviparous (eggs hatch inside the mother), the epaulette shark belongs to the group that relies on

 

 A rare sighting of the Epaulette Shark giving birth in the ex-Singapore Oceanarium in April 2024 when the building was named S.E.A Aquarium.

P.S AN EPAULETTE is an ornamental shoulder piece on an item of clothing, especially on the coat or jacket of a military uniform. . Can you see the black circular spots on both shoulders of the Epaulette Shark? They look like epaulettes! 

 

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a decoration worn on the shoulder of a piece of clothing, especially on a military coat, shirt, etc.