Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Chondrichthyes
- Order
- Squaliformes
- Family
- Scyliorhinidae
- Genus
- Cephaloscyllium
- Species
- laticeps
Habitat
This species inhabits rocky reefs, caves, and kelp forests in temperate coastal waters. It prefers depths from 5 to 400 meters along the southern coast of Australia, from New South Wales to Western Australia. They are often found in areas with plenty of hiding spots to avoid predators.
Diet
The Australian swellshark primarily feeds on bottom-dwelling prey such as crustaceans, small fish, and cephalopods like squid. It hunts nocturnally by ambushing prey on the seafloor, using its strong jaws to crush shells. Feeding occurs mainly at night when it is more active.
Behavior
The Australian swellshark is solitary and nocturnal, spending days hidden in crevices or under rocks and becoming active at night to hunt. It exhibits a unique defensive behavior by inflating its stomach with water or air when threatened, making it harder for predators to swallow. They are generally not territorial but can be curious around divers, sometimes approaching slowly.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern by IUCN.