Cephaloscyllium silasi (Talwar, 1974)
Indian swellshark
Cephaloscyllium silasi
photo by Siripittrakul, B. & T. Krajangdara

Family:  Scyliorhinidae (Cat sharks), subfamily: Scyliorhininae
Max. size:  36 cm TL (male/unsexed); 45 cm TL (female)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 250 - 500 m
Distribution:  Western Indian Ocean: vicinity of Quilon, India (Ref. 244) and Sauqira Bay, Oman (Ref. 10914).
Diagnosis:  This is a small shark with the following characters: stout body with expanded belly; labial furrows absent but a vestigial lower labial furrow may be present; anterior nasal flaps are broadly triangular; head depressed, flattened and broad, rounded in dorsal and ventrally; mouth large and arched; 5 gill slits, dorsolaterally placed and last two gill slits over pectorals, the 1-3 gill slits are subequal in length, 5th smallest; eyes dorsolateral and slit like; large mouth, arched or crescentic; mouth width 0.6 times HL; first dorsal origin slightly in front of pelvic insertion and placed above pelvics (Ref. 95495).
Biology:  Found on the uppermost continental slope. Probably a dwarf species. Oviparous (Ref. 50499). This species could possibly attains a maximum size of 50.0 cm TL, with males reported (Ref. 26842) to reach length at maturity at 36.7 cm TL. A 45.0 cm female was found gravid and have two egg cases, one in each uterus, containing visible embryos (85.1-86.2 mm) with attached yolk sac. Stomach examined contains crustaceans and cephalopods (Ref. 95495).
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered (CR); Date assessed: 19 November 2019 (A2d) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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