Latin name

Cephaloscyllium silasi

Other name

Cephaloscyllium silasi

Identification

The Indian swellshark has a thick body, a broad and short head with narrow, high-set eyes. The snout is blunt, wedge-shaped and very broad. The nasal skin folds are elongated. The mouth is moderately wide, the lips are not furrowed. Teeth are small, with three to five tips, the central one being highly pointed, the lateral ones small. The gill slits are short, a spiracles is present.

Features of fish fins

The pectoral fins of these sharks are large with rounded tips. The structure of the fin feathers is characteristic of closely related species.

Fish colouring

The body colour of the Indian swellshark is light brown. There are seven moderately wide dark brown saddle spots on the back and upper part of the flanks. Above the pectoral fins there is a dark rounded spot with indistinct edges. The ventral side of the torso is lighter than the general background, with no conspicuous spots or patterns.

Distribution

Widespread only in the western Indian Ocean at Quilon, India, and Saukira Bay, Oman, between 16° and 10° N latitude.

Habitat

It is a deep-sea species that inhabits the upper continental slopes from the surface down to 300 metres.

Size

It is a small shark, about 36cm long, but can stretch its body by inhaling air or water to appear larger to predators.

Behavior

Indian swellsharks are solitary creatures.

Food and feeding habits

These sharks feed on crustaceans and cephalopods.

Reproduction

Egg-laying species. Males are 367 mm long at maturity. Females carry their young in their uterus.

Fishing

Sometimes this species is caught as by-catch in deep-sea fishing nets.

Relationship with a person

The Indian swellshark is not dangerous to humans.