The Raja Ampat epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium freycineti) is an endemic species inhabiting shallow coastal habitats of the Raja Ampat Archipelago, Indonesia. Despite recent legal protection, information on its biology, population structure, and spatial ecology remains limited, constraining effective conservation.
A comprehensive understanding of the life history and ecology of threatened species is critical for developing and implementing effective conservation strategies, as it provides detailed insights into reproductive behavior, population dynamics, and habitat requirements. Such ecological knowledge allows researchers to identify critical factors driving species declines, enabling targeted, evidence-based conservation actions to mitigate specific threats.
This study provides the first comprehensive insights into the life history (biology, demographic structure, growth) and habitat uses of the endemic Raja Ampat epaulette shark Hemiscyllium freycineti in the Dampier Strait region, Raja Ampat. By integrating nocturnal field surveys, photo-identification, PIT tagging, morphometrics, and reproductive assessments, we establish a robust biological and ecological baseline for a previously understudied shark species.