Narrowbar swellshark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Narrowbar swellshark |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Cephaloscyllium
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| Species: |
zebrum
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The narrowbar swellshark (Cephaloscyllium zebrum) is a rare type of catshark. It belongs to the family called Scyliorhinidae, which includes many kinds of catsharks. So far, scientists have only found two of these sharks. They were found near Flinders Reef in northeastern Australia.
This shark can grow to be about 44.5 cm (17.5 in) long. It has a strong body and a short, wide head. You can easily spot it because of its cool zebra-like pattern. It has dark brown stripes across its back on a yellowish background. Just like other swellsharks, it can puff up its body. This helps it scare away predators or get stuck in tight spots.
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How the Narrowbar Swellshark Got Its Name
In 1994, two main scientists, Peter Last and John Stevens, from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) first found these sharks. They called them Cephaloscyllium "sp. D" for a while. They found two striped swellsharks using a trawl net in December 1985. One was a male, about 44.5 cm (17.5 in) long, and the other was a female, about 43.5 cm (17.1 in) long.
Later, in 2008, Peter Last and William White officially described this shark. They gave it the special name zebrum. This name comes from its unique striped pattern, which looks like a zebra. The male shark they found was chosen as the main example for the species.
Where Narrowbar Swellsharks Live
The narrowbar swellshark has only been found in one area so far. It lives deep in the ocean, between 444–454 m (1,457–1,490 ft) down. This area is on the upper part of the continental slope. This is a steep slope that goes from the edge of the land down into the deep ocean.
They were found near Flinders Reef, which is off the coast of Queensland, an Australian state. It's possible that these sharks live in more places, but scientists just haven't found them yet.
What Narrowbar Swellsharks Look Like
The narrowbar swellshark is a small type of Cephaloscyllium shark. It grows to be about 44 cm (17 in) long. It has a strong body and a head that is short, wide, and flat. Its snout, which is like its nose, is rounded. It has skin flaps near its nostrils that stick out to the sides. These flaps do not reach its long, narrow mouth.
Its eyes are like slits and are placed high on its head. Behind the eyes are tiny holes called spiracles. There are no grooves at the corners of its mouth. This shark has many small teeth. The male shark has teeth with three points, while the female has teeth with five points. When its mouth is closed, you can still see its upper teeth.
The shark has broad pectoral fins, which are like arms, that are medium-sized with rounded tips. Its first dorsal fin, on its back, is shaped like a triangle. It starts above the middle of its pelvic fins, which are near its belly. The second dorsal fin is much smaller and lower.
The anal fin, near its tail, is rounded and much bigger than the second dorsal fin. The caudal fin, or tail fin, is medium-sized. It has a clear lower part and a strong notch near the tip of the upper part. The shark's body is covered in tiny, arrowhead-shaped scales called dermal denticles.
The color of its back is very special among swellsharks. It has 31 to 34 dark brown stripes that go across its body. These stripes are close together and are on a creamy yellow background. On its snout, the stripes are not regular. Towards its tail, every other stripe becomes very light. Its belly is pale and has no marks.
Life and Habits of the Narrowbar Swellshark
Scientists don't know much about the daily life of the narrowbar swellshark. However, like other Cephaloscyllium species, it can likely puff up its body when it feels threatened. This makes it look bigger and can scare away predators. It can also help the shark wedge itself into a crack or crevice, making it harder for a predator to pull it out.
Narrowbar Swellshark and People
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the narrowbar swellshark as Data Deficient. This means that there isn't enough information about the shark to know if it's in danger or not. Scientists need to learn more about it. The good news is that there isn't much fishing happening in the deep waters where this shark lives. This might help protect it for now.
See also
In Spanish: Cephaloscyllium zebrum para niños
