#cephaloscyllium

[thebeastsofindia]

Indian Swellshark (Cephaloscyllium silasi), family Scyliorhinidae, order Carcharhiniformes, Indian Ocean

Swell sharks (genus Cephaloscyllium) are small, bottom dwelling, harmless sharks that gulp water and swell up, similarly to pufferfish, when threatened

Critically Endangered

Photo by Venkatesh Saroj

[libutron]

Swell Shark - Cephaloscyllium ventriosum

Cephaloscyllium ventriosum is a species of catshark (Carcharhiniformes - Scyliorhinidae), aptly named the Swell Shark due to its ability to swallow large amounts of water, swelling its body to twice its normal size, when threatened by a potential predator.

It is a little known nocturnal benthic and epibenthic species with a disjunct distribution in the Eastern Pacific, from California to southern Mexico, and off central Chile. As a nocturnal predator, the swell shark feeds primarily on small reef fishes as well as any prey items that it can easily fit in its large mouth.

References: [1] - [2]

 Photo credit: ©Walter Chung | Locality: Boundary Wall, San Diego, California, US (2013)

[fuckyeahaquaria]

Draughtboard Shark | Cephaloscyllium

(by Andrew P Newton)