# swellshark (*Cephaloscyllium ventriosum*) The swellshark is a special kind of shark that can puff up like a balloon! It lives in the ocean and loves to hide in caves and crevices. - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![swellshark](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cephaloscyllium_ventriosum.jpg&width=800) Photo: Cliff from I now live in Arlington, VA (Outside Washington DC), USA, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cephaloscyllium_ventriosum.jpg) ## Appearance The swellshark has a stout head and a slender body, typically yellowish-brown with a pattern of dark spots and saddles. Its large cat-like eyes glow in the dark, and its rough skin is covered in tiny tooth-like scales. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Elasmobranchii - **Order:** Carcharhiniformes - **Family:** Scyliorhinidae - **Genus:** Cephaloscyllium ## Interesting facts - Swellshark eggs are called 'mermaid's purses' and have curly tendrils! - These sharks are harmless to humans, often curious but shy! - They spend most of their day resting hidden in rocky caves and crevices! - Young swellsharks are sometimes even brighter and more spotted than adults! ## Special abilities - **Body Inflator:** Swellsharks can inflate their bodies with water because of elastic skin that helps them appear larger and wedge into crevices, deterring predators. - **Glowing Skin:** Swellsharks have skin that glows green because of special proteins that help them communicate with other swellsharks in the dark ocean depths. - **Night Vision Hunter:** Swellsharks have large, reflective eyes that help them see very well in low light to hunt for food at night. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 30-100 cm - **Weight:** 0.5-3 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-20 years - **Swim Speed:** 8 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 450 m - **Water Type:** Saltwater ## Diet & Feeding This shark is a nocturnal hunter, eating small bottom-dwelling animals it finds in the dark. - **Age differences:** Younger sharks eat more invertebrates, while adults add more fish to their diet. - **Primary Foods:** crabs, shrimp, squid, octopus, small bony fish, snails - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Northern Anchovy (*Engraulis mordax*) — They hunt and consume these small schooling fish. - **Hunts:** Pacific Rock Crab (*Cancer antennarius*) — This crab is a common prey item for swellsharks. - **Eaten by:** [Northern Elephant Seal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-elephant-seal) (*Mirounga angustirostris*) — Large seals sometimes prey on swellsharks. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Cave Dwelling](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cave-dwelling): Cave dwelling describes organisms specifically adapted to live in underground cave systems, often exhibiting specialized traits due to lack of light. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Ambush Predator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ambush-predator): An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always watch out for waves and stay close to an adult when exploring the beach. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify swellshark? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is swellshark? 30-100 cm ### How much does swellshark weigh? 0.5-3 kg ### How long does swellshark live? 10-20 years ### What does swellshark eat? This shark is a nocturnal hunter, eating small bottom-dwelling animals it finds in the dark. ### How fast can swellshark swim? 8 km/h ### Where is swellshark usually found? Coastal areas ### How does swellshark hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Heal the Bay Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/heal-the-bay-aquarium) — California, US · Zoo - [Cabrillo Marine Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cabrillo-marine-aquarium) — California, US · Zoo ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Swellshark: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/swellshark)