Scyliorhinidae

Indian swellshark

Cephaloscyllium silasi

Swelling by gulping air or water

• Regional distribution
• Marine fish
• Indian Ocean
• South Asia
• West Asia
• Elongated
• Medium

The Indian swellshark (Cephaloscyllium silasi) is a catshark of the family Scyliorhinidae found in the western Indian Ocean near Quilon, India and Sauqira Bay, Oman. Specimens caught as bycatch near North Sentinel Island of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been genetically identified as Indian swellsharks, expanding its known range to the Andaman Sea. It grows to about 36 cm in length, and can expand its body by taking in air or water to make it appear larger to predators.