balloon shark

Cephaloscyllium sufflans

Nostril flaps over sandy muddy bottoms

Tropical
Regional distribution
Marine fish
Indian Ocean
Africa
Southeast Asia
Elongated
Large
Tropical fish

The balloon shark (Cephaloscyllium sufflans) is a species of catshark, and part of the family Scyliorhinidae, endemic to the southwestern Indian Ocean off South Africa and Mozambique. Benthic in nature, it is found over sandy and muddy flats at depths of 40–600 m (130–1,970 ft). This thick-bodied species has a broad, flattened head and a short tail; its distinguishing traits include narrow, lobe-like skin flaps in front of the nostrils, and a dorsal color pattern of faint darker saddles on a light grayish background.

Class: Sharks and Rays
Order: Ground Sharks
Family: Scyliorhinidae
Genus: Cephaloscyllium
Maximum length: 110 cm
Water: Marine
Body shape: elongated
Distribution: 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.
Conservation status: NTNear Threatened

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