Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) > Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks) > Scyliorhinidae (Cat sharks)
Etymology: Cephaloscyllium: Greek, kephale = head + skylion = dogfish (Ref. 80388).

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Marine; demersal; depth range 40 - 600 m (Ref. 5578). Tropical, preferred ?; 19°S - 28°S

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

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.

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - 82 cm
Max length : 110 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5578)

Short description Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 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).

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).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Oviparous, laying one egg-case per oviduct (Ref. 244). Embryos feed solely on yolk (Ref. 50449).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator : Compagno, Leonard J.V. | Collaborators

Compagno, L.J.V., 1984. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 4. Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 2 - Carcharhiniformes. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(4/2):251-655. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 244)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Least Concern (LC)

CITES (Ref. 94142)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: of no interest

FAO(Publication : search) | FisheriesWiki | Sea Around Us

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Summary page | Point data | Common names | Photos

Internet sources

Cephaloscyllium sufflans (Regan, 1921)