- Not to be confused with the draughtboard shark, Cephaloscyllium laticeps, of Australia.
The draughtsboard shark, Cephaloscyllium isabellum, is a catshark of the family Scyliorhinidae endemic to New Zealand. It is found in the southwest Pacific Ocean at depths of between 18 and 220 m. It is commonly known in New Zealand as the Carpet Shark [1].
The Draughtsboard Swellshark grows to about 1 m in length, and can expand its body by taking in air or water to make it appear larger to predators. It can be found in crevices and caves of rocky reefs during the day, but may move to adjacent sandy areas at night, and feeds on fishes and invertebrates. Adults segregate by sex. Reproduction is oviparous.
This shark has been reported to be able to bark like a large dog, something unusual among sharks who are mostly silent creatures. According to shark expert R. Aiden Martin: "if caught by net or hook and line and rapidly hauled to the surface, a Draughtsboard Shark may sometimes inflate with air instead of water. The cardiac sphincter renders the Draughtsboard Shark's stomach reasonably air-tight. But when the inflated shark must relieve that gastric pressure, the cardiac sphincter functions in a way that may be termed less-than-refined. When the sphincter relaxes, trapped air passes out the shark's stomach in an explosive rush, creating a hoarse 'bark' as it goes."[2]
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