bamboo shark

noun

: any of various small, slender carpet sharks (family Hemiscylliidae) native to the tropical western Pacific that have very long tails, two spineless dorsal fins, and large spiracles below the eyes

Most of the animals in the touch-pool area are bamboo sharks, beautifully striped and spotted reef-dwellers, common throughout the western Pacific.

—Pete Thomas, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2004

The adult bamboo shark is a bottom feeder that grows to about 3 feet long. The zoo's three adults are fed shrimp, scallops and small pieces of fish.

—John Switzer, Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch, 20 Jan. 1995

Word History

First Known Use

1991, in the meaning defined above

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