:Necklace carpetshark

{{Short description|Species of shark}}

{{Speciesbox

| name = Necklace carpetshark

| image = Parascyllium variolatum port phillip bay.jpg

| image_caption = The necklace carpetshark is usually found on or near the ocean floor.

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{Cite journal | author = Heupel, M.R. | title = Parascyllium variolatum | journal = The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species | volume = 2016 | page = e.T41844A68640093 | publisher = IUCN | date = 2016 | url = http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/41844/0 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41844A68640093.en | access-date = 23 December 2017| doi-access = free }}

| genus = Parascyllium

| species = variolatum

| authority = (A. H. A. Duméril, 1853)

| range_map = Parascyllium variolatum distmap.png

| range_map_caption = Range of necklace carpetshark (in blue)

| synonyms = Hemiscyllium variolatum Duméril, 1853

Parascyllium nuchalis McCoy, 1874{{FishBase | genus = Parascyllium | species = variolatum | month = January | year = 2017}}

}}

{{Portal|Sharks}}

The necklace carpetshark (Parascyllium variolatum), also known as the varied carpetshark, is a carpetshark of the family Parascylliidae endemic to the waters off Australia's southern coast between latitudes 37°S and 41°S. It is found near the ocean floor over sand, rock, coral reefs, and kelp and seagrass beds at depths down to {{convert|180|m|ft|abbr=on}}. It is almost exclusively seen at night and spends the day hidden in caves or camouflaged on the ocean floor.

With a slender, elongated body and a maximum length of only 91.0 cm TL, it is harmless to humans. The tail is long, but difficult to tell apart from the rest of the shark. Its body is grey to brown in color with a broad black collar, from which it gets its name, and white spots along its body. It has small spiracles and nostrils with short barbels, likely used for sensory purposes. It is often mistaken for a species of catshark, despite being more closely related to wobbegongs and nurse sharks.

It is a nocturnal predator and feeds mostly on shellfish.{{cite web | last = Bray | first = Dianna J. | title = Parascyllium variolatum | website = Fishes of Australia | url = http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1977}} Reproduction is oviparous with females laying eggs with curled tendrils that anchor them to the ocean floor.{{cite book | editor1 = Taylor, Leighton | author1 = Tricas, Timothy C. | author2 = Deacon, Kevin | author3 = Last, Peter | author4 = McCosker, John E. | author5 = Walker, Terence I. | year = 1997 | title = The Nature Company Guides: Sharks & Rays | publisher = Time-Life Books | location = Sydney | pages = [https://archive.org/details/sharksrays00tric/page/138 138] | isbn = 0-7835-4940-7 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/sharksrays00tric/page/138 }} The embryos feed on yolk.