Blind shark - Brachaelurus waddi

The blind shark has a compact body and a slightly flattened head, with small eyes, conspicuous nasal barbels and large spiracles behind the eyes. These features suit a shark that spends much of the day resting on the seabed or inside rocky crevices.

Its upper surface is brown to almost black, often patterned with pale spots and darker saddles, while the underside is yellowish to cream. Two similarly sized dorsal fins sit far back on the body. A small anal fin lies just in front of the long caudal fin, whose lower lobe is barely developed.

Fishes of Australia reports a maximum total length of about 1.2 metres, although many individuals remain considerably smaller. Juveniles generally show stronger saddle markings than adults.

The name does not mean that the species is blind. Its eyes function normally and are protected by strong eyelids. The combination of a stout profile, barbels, rear-set dorsal fins and body pattern is more useful for identification than any single colour mark.

The natural range lies in the southwestern Pacific Ocean along the east coast of Australia. Confirmed records extend from southern Queensland to southern New South Wales; older reports from Western Australia and the Northern Territory are considered doubtful or misidentifications.

FishBase gives a depth range from the intertidal zone to about 140 metres. Typical habitats include rocky shores, reefs, surf zones, tidal pools and adjacent seagrass beds. Juveniles often occupy very shallow water, while larger animals shelter in caves and beneath ledges during the day.

This is a coastal habitat specialist that relies on structure rather than long-distance movement. Crevices, overhangs and dark caves provide daytime cover; nearby rock and seagrass areas offer feeding grounds after dark.

The map presents a broad traditional range, not a precise record of current observations. Location, depth, habitat, body pattern and photographs are therefore more useful when assessing an individual sighting than proximity to a schematic boundary.

Blind sharks are mainly nocturnal. By day they rest in caves, beneath ledges or among rocks; after dark they search the bottom and shallow reef areas for prey. Their diet includes small fishes and benthic invertebrates.

Recorded prey includes crabs, shrimps, cuttlefish, squid and sea anemones. Barbels and a well-developed sense of smell help the shark search in crevices and across the seabed. Small prey is captured with a short suction strike.

A reproductive study from New South Wales describes aplacental yolk-sac viviparity: embryos develop inside the mother without a placenta and are born fully formed. Litters usually contain seven or eight pups, with some accounts reporting nine.

Birth takes place during the Australian spring, and newborns measure roughly 17 centimetres. Shallow, structurally complex coastal areas offer shelter and abundant small prey. Growth, longevity and movement remain less well known than the species’ appearance and diet.

The IUCN Red List assesses the blind shark as Least Concern. Its limited range lies along a densely populated coast, but the species is considered common in suitable habitat and no broad population collapse is known.

The Australian Shark Report Card also considers the species at relatively low risk, while noting regular bycatch in trap fisheries in New South Wales. Individuals may also enter other coastal fishing gear or be caught by recreational fishers.

Potential pressures include bycatch in traps and nets, degradation of shallow rocky, reef and seagrass habitats, local removals within a restricted endemic range, and poor catch records when similar small bottom sharks are not identified correctly.

Least Concern does not mean monitoring is unnecessary. Accurate identification, careful release of bycatch, protection of structurally complex coastal habitat and long-term tracking of regional catches remain sensible safeguards.

The Australian Museum describes the blind shark as harmless to people. Its name comes from the habit of closing its eyes firmly when landed out of the water, a protective response rather than blindness.

For divers and snorkellers it is a quiet, well-camouflaged bottom shark, often found on rocky reefs, in caves or beneath ledges. A resting animal should not be touched, driven from its shelter or exposed to a bright lamp for long periods.

Keep to the side, leave cave exits clear and never lift or pull the shark by its tail. In tidal pools, avoid stepping on animals or cutting them off from the water. Captured individuals should be kept in the water and released without unnecessary delay.

The species can survive short periods out of water, but this resilience is no reason to hold a catch ashore for photographs. Gentle handling reduces stress and injury to the eyes, gills and skin.