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Draughtboard Shark
Cephaloscyllium laticeps (Duméril, 1853)
Dorsal and lateral views of a Draughtboard Shark from the Australian Museum fish collection. This specimen is the holotype of Cephaloscyllium isabella laticeps nascione, Whitley, 1932 (AMS IA.2829). It was collected at a depth of 165 m, 38 km north-east of Montague Island, New South Wales in September 1926. Photo: M. Allen © Australian Museum. View larger image.
Egg case of a Draughtboard Shark found washed up on a beach in Tasmania. Photo © V. Belbin. View larger image.
The Draughtboard Shark is a stocky species that has a short broad head and widely spaced denticles. There are two dorsal fins. The second dorsal fin which is located close to the caudal fin, is smaller than the first.
The species is grey to brownish above and pale below. The sides of the body are mottled with irregular dark blotches and a few pale flecks. There is usually a dark area below both eyes and a dark stripe along the midline of the belly.
It grows to about 1.5 m in length.
This species is endemic to Australia, occurring from the central coast of New South Wales, around the temperate south of the country, including Tasmania, to south-eastern Western Australia.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
It is a benthic species that occurs most commonly in continental shelf and continental slope waters down to at least 650 m, but is sometimes seen by divers in relatively shallow waters.
Females lay distinctive flask-shaped egg cases that have 19 to 27 strong transverse ridges. The egg cases are laid on the bottom where the tendrils attach to bottom-dwelling invertebrates and seaweed.
When disturbed, the Draughtboard Shark can increase its body size by inflating its stomach with air or water.
The Draughtboard Shark has been called a number of other common names including Australian Swellshark, Flopguts, Isabell's Swell Shark, Nutcracker Shark, Rock Shark, Sleepy Joe, Spotted Swellshark, Swell Shark and Whitefinned Swellshark.
Related links
- View the Sharks list
Further reading
- Stevens, J.D. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
- Last, P.R. & J.D. Stevens. 1994. Sharks and Rays of Australia. CSIRO. Pp. 513.
