Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Chondrichthyes
- Order
- Squaliformes
- Family
- Scyliorhinidae
- Genus
- Cephaloscyllium
- Species
- umbratile
Habitat
The blotchy swellshark inhabits continental shelves and slopes in the western Pacific Ocean, typically at depths of 100 to 800 meters. It prefers rocky or sandy bottoms near Japan, Taiwan, and the East China Sea, where it can hide in crevices and caves.
Diet
This shark primarily feeds on bony fishes, squid, and crustaceans, which it hunts on the seafloor. It is nocturnal, actively foraging at night and using its ability to swell up to dislodge prey from hiding spots.
Behavior
The blotchy swellshark is solitary and nocturnal, spending days hidden in caves or under rocks and emerging at night to hunt. It exhibits defensive inflation when threatened, which deters predators, and shows little territorial behavior. This species is generally inactive during the day.
Conservation Status
Listed as Data Deficient by IUCN.