---
title: "Draughtboard Shark"
description: "Cephaloscyllium laticeps — Fish. The Australian swellshark (Cephaloscyllium laticeps) or draughtboard shark, is a species of catshark, and part of the family Scyliorhinidae, endemic to southern Australia."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/draughtboard-shark
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Draughtboard Shark

> Cephaloscyllium laticeps — Fish. The Australian swellshark (Cephaloscyllium laticeps) or draughtboard shark, is a species of catshark, and part of the family Scyliorhinidae, endemic to southern Australia.

- Scientific name: *Cephaloscyllium laticeps*
- Category: `fish` (Fish)
- Habitats: `sea` (Sea & coast)
- iNaturalist observations: 391
- Wikidata: [Q2719434](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2719434)
- iNaturalist taxon: [97012](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/97012)

## Names

- en: Draughtboard Shark
- de: Australischer Schwellhai

## Countries with the most observations

AU (383)

## Summary

The Australian swellshark (Cephaloscyllium laticeps) or draughtboard shark, is a species of catshark, and part of the family Scyliorhinidae, endemic to southern Australia. This bottom-dwelling species can be found on the continental shelf down to a depth of 220 m (720 ft). Usually measuring 1 m (3 ft 3 in) long, it is a stout-bodied, broad-headed shark with a short tail and a first dorsal fin much larger than the second. It can be identified by its variegated dorsal coloration of brown or grey patches and numerous spots.
Australian swellsharks are sedentary and mainly nocturnal, with most individuals remaining within…

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_swellshark

## Photo

![Draughtboard Shark](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/draughtboard-shark/medium.jpg)

Photo: Martin Predavec · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/247249987

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/draughtboard-shark?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).