Balloon shark
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| Balloon shark | ||||||||||||||||
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| Cephaloscyllium sufflans (Regan, 1921) |
The balloon shark, Cephaloscyllium sufflans, is a catshark of the family Scyliorhinidae found in the western Indian Ocean from Mozambique and Natal, South Africa, between latitudes 19° S and 28° S, at depths of between 40 and 600 m. It grows to about 1.1 m in length, and can expand its body by taking in air or water to make it appear larger to predators.
The balloon shark is a comparatively large, stout catshark with a broad, rounded snout and no labial furrows, the second dorsal fin being much smaller than the first. It is found on the continental shelf and upper slope, preferring areas with sand and mud bottoms. It feeds on benthic animals, mainly crustaceans and cephalopods, but also bony fishes, and other elasmobranches.
Reproduction is oviparous.
Coloration is pale grey-brown, paler below, juveniles having about 6 slightly darker saddles on the dorsal side which fade and become unmarked in adults.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- "Cephaloscyllium sufflans". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. may 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
