The epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum) and the grey carpet shark (Chiloscyllium punctatum) are commonly found in periodically hypoxic environments. The ecophysiological time available for these animals to safely exploit these niches during different seasonal temperatures was examined. The time to loss of righting reflex (TLRR) was examined in response to an open ended anoxic challenge at three seasonal temperatures (23, 25 and 27é. Ventilation rates were measured in an open ended anoxic challenge at 23àand during 1.5 h of anoxia followed by 2 h of re-oxygenation at 23 and 25î The mean TLRR of epaulette and grey carpet sharks was inversely proportional to temperature. The TLRR was similar between species at 23û however, grey carpet sharks had significantly reduced TLRR at higher temperatures. During the standardised anoxic challenge, epaulette sharks entered into ventilatory depression significantly earlier at 25î During re-oxygenation, epaulette sharks exposed to anoxia at 23àhad no significant increase in ventilation rates. However, after anoxic challenge and re-oxygenation at 25ì epaulette sharks showed a significant increase in ventilation rates during re-oxygenation. Grey carpet sharks displayed no evidence of ventilatory depression during anoxia. However, during re-oxygenation, grey carpet sharks had significantly elevated ventilation rates above pre-experimental levels and control animals. These data demonstrate that the anoxia tolerance times of both species were temperature dependent, with a significant reduction in the TLRR occurring at higher temperatures. Epaulette sharks had a significantly greater TLRR at higher temperatures than grey carpet sharks, which did not enter into a ventilatory depression.