Indian swellshark
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Subdivision: Selachimorpha
Order: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Scyliorhinidae
Genus: Cephaloscyllium
Species:
C. silasi
Binomial name
Cephaloscyllium silasi
(Talwar, 1974)
Range of the Indian swellshark

The Indian swellshark (Cephaloscyllium silasi) is a catshark of the family Scyliorhinidae found in the western Indian Ocean from Quilon, India and Sauqira Bay, Oman between latitudes 16° N and 10° N, from the surface to 300 m. It grows to about 36 cm in length, and can expand its body by taking in air or water to make it appear larger to predators.

Biology

Cephaloscyllium silasi is a single oviparous species and possibly attains a maximum size of 500 mm  in total length. Length at maturity of males reported as 367 mm.[2] Females have egg cases, which carry their young ones in the uterus, usually each egg cases in two uteri of the female shark with attached yolk.[3]

Feeding

Cephaloscyllium silasi, feeds on Crustaceans and cephalopods [3]

References

  1. ^ Dulvy, N.K.; Bineesh, K.K.; Bown, RMK, Cheok, J.; Dharmadi.; Sherman, C.S. (2020). "Cephaloscyllium silasi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T161591A124511862. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T161591A124511862.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.((cite journal)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Compagno, L.J.V (1988). Sharks of the order Carcharhiniformes. Princeton, N: Princeton University Press. p. 486.
  3. ^ a b Akhilesh, K.V.; Bineesh, K.K.; Mishra, S.S.; Ganga, U.; Pillai, N.G.K. (2014). "Notes on the Indian swellshark, Cephaloscyllium silasi (Scyliorhinidae: Carcharhiniformes) from deep waters off the west coast of India". Marine Biodiversity Records. 7: e25. doi:10.1017/S1755267214000141. ISSN 1755-2672.
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