Species Swellshark

Swellshark Adult

The swellshark, Cephaloscyllium ventriosum, is a catshark of the family Scyliorhinidae. It is found in the subtropical eastern Pacific Ocean between latitudes 40° N and 37° S, from the surface to 460 m.

It grows to about 100 centimeters (39 in) in length, and can expand its body to about double its regular size to prevent its predators such as seals and larger sharks from pulling it out from rocky reefs, under ledges, and in crevices.

Swellshark Baby

The swellshark's appearance resembles that of the leopard shark in that it has spots. Younger swellsharks are lighter in color than the older ones. Swellsharks are nocturnal, sleeping in reef crevices and caves during the day. Sometimes, these sharks will grab onto their tail with their mouth in a ring shape to prevent other fish to attack. During the night they hunt molluscs.

When discovered in 1880, the swellshark was first described as Scyllium ventriosum however it was later changed to Cephaloscyllium ventriosum. The Greek word kephale which means skylla was used for the term Cephaloscyllium while ventriosum which means large belly was used to describe the shark's ability to suck in water.