Swell shark

(Cephaloscyllium ventriosum)

Diet

Feeds on small fishes, crustaceans and molluscs.

Habitat

Found over continental shelves in temperate and subtropical waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean from California to south Mexico, and along the coast of central Chile.

Fin-tastic facts

This shark gets its name from an unusual behavior it displays when threatened by a predator. When threatened, the swell shark swallows vast amounts of seawater, which causes its belly to swell and makes it difficult for predators to eat. It also means they can wedge themselves tightly into rocky crevices. But that’s not the only unusual thing about this shark. Green fluorescent proteins in the skin reflect moonlight, and to another member of the same species, the swell shark will appear to be glowing bright green in the darkness. It’s not known exactly why they have adapted this feature, but it could be so they can find each other in the dark when they come together to mate. Incredibly, new research into these fluorescent proteins has made advances in medical science where they are being developed to help cure deadly diseases such as cancer.