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Cephaloscyllium sufflans (Regan, 1921)

Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. A comparatively large, stout catshark with a broad, rounded snout and no labial furrows; 2nd dorsal much smaller than 1st (Ref. 5578). Pale grey-brown, paler below; juveniles with about 6 slightly darker saddles on the dorsal side which fade and become unmarked in adults (Ref. 5510).

Common Names

  • Blaasophaai , Afrikaans , South Africa
  • قِرش كُرة , Arabic , Saudi Arabia
  • Ballonzwelhaai , Dutch , Netherlands
  • Balloon shark , English , Global
  • Swell shark , English , South Africa
  • Mosambiigi põishai , Estonian , Estonia
  • Holbiche soufflue , French , Global
  • 南非絨毛鯊 , Mandarin Chinese , China
  • 南非绒毛鲨 , Mandarin Chinese , China
  • 南非绒毛鲨 , Mandarin Chinese , China
  • Pata-roxa ensuflada , Portuguese , Mozambique
  • Pejegato balón , Spanish , Spain

    • Taxonomic Hierarchy

    Kingdom: Animalia

    Phylum: Chordata

    Class: Elasmobranchii

    Order: Carcharhiniformes

    Family: Scyliorhinidae

    Genus: Cephaloscyllium

    Species: Cephaloscyllium sufflans (Regan, 1921)

    Climate Zone

  • Tropical

    • Location

  • Western Indian Ocean: Mozambique and Natal, South Africa (Ref. 244). Records from the Gulf of Aden are doubtful. Nominal records from Viet Nam were based on an undescribed species often called Cephaloscyllium umbratile which was not even that species.

    • Biology

    Found on the continental shelf and upper slope, preferring areas with sand and mud bottoms (Ref. 5578). Feeds on benthic animals, mainly crustaceans and cephalopods, but also bony fishes, and other elasmobranches (Ref. 244). Oviparous (Ref. 50449). Can expand with air when disturbed (Ref. 244).

    Habitat

    demersal