Blotchy swell shark
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| Cephaloscyllium umbratile Jordan & Fowler, 1903 |
The blotchy swell shark, Cephaloscyllium umbratile, is a catshark of the family Scyliorhinidae found in the subtropical western Pacific Ocean from Japan to the South China Sea, possibly to Papua New Guinea, at depths of between 20 and 200 m. It grows to about 1.2 m in length, and can expand its body by taking in air or water to make it appear larger to predators.
The blotchy swell shark is found on rocky reefs near shore, down to 300 m on sandy mud bottoms. It feeds mainly on bony fishes such as mackerel, sardines, filefishes, moray eels, dragonets, flatfishes and cowfishes, but also preys on elasmobranches and squid. Thrives and breeds in public aquaria.
Reproduction is oviparous.
Coloration is lighter than the draughtsboard shark, Cephaloscyllium isabellum, with irregular saddles and numerous blotches and a spotless ventral surface.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- "Cephaloscyllium umbratile". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. may 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
