Cook's swellshark

📖 Overview

Cook's swellshark (Cephaloscyllium cooki) is a ray-finned fish of the family Scyliorhinidae. It inhabits marine (saltwater) waters. This species can reach a maximum total length of 29.5 cm. It occurs at depths between 223 and 300 metres. With a trophic level of 3.8, it is a mid-level predator. It is assessed as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

This small species has the following set of characters: relatively robust body, head height 10.5-14.2% TL, trunk width 17.1-21.7% TL; origin of first dorsal-fin over the centre or posterior half of pelvic-fin base; prenarial 4.9-5.5% TL in length; preorbital snout length 1.3-1.6 times the prenarial length, 2.5-3.1 in prepectoral length, 5.5-6.6 in prepelvic length; snout-vent length is short, 45.4-49.3% TL; wide nostrils, the width 3.0-3.4% TL; eye-spiracle space wide, 1.0-1.2% TL; small pectoral fin, height 9.4-10.2% TL, posterior margin 8.9-9.8% TL; anal fin low 2.8-3.4% TL; caudal peduncle long, anal-caudal space 6.3-6.9% TL; teeth mainly with 3 cusps near symphysis of upper jaw; mainly weakly tricuspidate are the flank denticles; back without greatly enlarged denticles; very long adult clasper, its outer length to at least 10% TL, almost reaching anal fin, interspace 0.9-1.0% TL; vertebral centra 101-106; tooth count low, 48-62 teeth in each jaw; 8 dark, white-edged saddles on the upper half of body, tail and caudal fin; under-surface mainly uniform greyish, with the snout darkest .: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Cook's swellshark is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Cook's swellshark is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Cook's swellshark is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; benthopelagic; depth range 223 - 300 m . Tropical

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

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