Speckled swellshark

📖 Overview

Speckled swellshark (Cephaloscyllium speccum) is a ray-finned fish of the family Scyliorhinidae. It inhabits marine (saltwater) waters. This species can reach a maximum total length of 68 cm. It occurs at depths between 150 and 455 metres. With a trophic level of 4.1, it is a mid-level predator. It is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

A medium-sized species with the following characters: head 7.8-12.5% TL in height, trunk width 13.0-16.8% TL; origin of first dorsal-fin mostly over posterior of pelvic-fin base; prenarial 3.6-4.9% TL in length; preorbital snout length 1.5-2.0 times prenarial length, 2.6-3.1 in prepectoral length, 5.9-7.1 in prepelvic length; snout-vent length long, 47.4-51.1% TL; nostril 2.2-2.7% TL in width; eye-spiracle space narrow, 0.4-1.0% TL; pectoral fin medium-sized, height 8.9-13.8% TL, posterior margin 8.5-13.3% TL; anal fin tall, 3.2-4.4% TL; anal-caudal space 4.5-6.1% TL; precaudal 76-78% TL in length; interdorsal space 6.5-8.6% TL; teeth have 3-5 cusps; unicuspidate or weakly tricuspidate flank denticles; back with no greatly enlarged denticles; adult clasper long, outer length about 7% TL, well short of anal fin, interspace about 1.9% TL; vertebral centra 111-115; tooth count relatively high, 69-97 teeth in each jaw; color of upper half of body pale, with a strongly variegated pattern that is well-demarcated from the ventral surface; dark saddles (8) evident on body and caudal fin; pale variegated dorsal fins; dark blotch over gills absent; distinct V-shaped marking on posterior margin of terminal lobe of caudal fin absent; upper surfaces of pectoral and pelvic-fin without a dark central blotch; without dark saddle extending onto caudal peduncle above origin of ventral lobe of caudal fin; uniformly pale on the ventral surface; color of juveniles pale, with dark lines and spots forming rosettes and linear saddle markings, and the markings between spiracles separated into two unconnected pseudo-ocelli .: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Speckled swellshark is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; benthopelagic; depth range 150 - 455 m . Tropical Indian Ocean: Australia.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

👥 Community & Contribute