Balloon Shark
Cephaloscyllium sufflans
- Group: Shark
- Typical depth: 40–600 m
- Max size: 1.1 m
- For divers: safe
- IUCN status: NT
A bottom dwelling catshark of continental shelves and slopes, the balloon shark can gulp air or water to swell its body when disturbed. It hunts crustaceans, cephalopods and small fish over sand and mud, lays eggs, and grows to about a metre. The IUCN rates it near threatened.
Taxonomy: Animalia › Chordata › Elasmobranchii › Carcharhiniformes › Scyliorhinidae › Cephaloscyllium
Species data via the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), AphiaID 217637.
FAQ
- How deep does the Balloon Shark live?
- The Balloon Shark (Cephaloscyllium sufflans) is typically found at 40–600 m.
- Is the Balloon Shark dangerous to divers?
- The Balloon Shark is harmless to divers.
- How big does the Balloon Shark get?
- The Balloon Shark grows to about 1.1 m.