---
title: "New Zealand Draughtboard Shark"
description: "Cephaloscyllium isabella — Fish. The draughtsboard shark (Cephaloscyllium isabellum; Māori: pekapeka) is a species of catshark, and part of the family Scyliorhinidae, so named for its \"checkerboard\" colour pattern of dark blotches."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/new-zealand-draughtboard-shark
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# New Zealand Draughtboard Shark

> Cephaloscyllium isabella — Fish. The draughtsboard shark (Cephaloscyllium isabellum; Māori: pekapeka) is a species of catshark, and part of the family Scyliorhinidae, so named for its "checkerboard" colour pattern of dark blotches.

- Scientific name: *Cephaloscyllium isabella*
- Category: `fish` (Fish)
- Habitats: `sea` (Sea & coast)
- iNaturalist observations: 421
- Wikidata: [Q2639518](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2639518)
- iNaturalist taxon: [97011](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/97011)

## Names

- en: New Zealand Draughtboard Shark
- de: Damebretthai
- es: Pejegato ajedrezado
- fr: Holbiche damier
- it: Cephaloscyllium isabellum
- nl: Cephaloscyllium isabellum
- pt: Cephaloscyllium isabellum
- pl: Cephaloscyllium isabellum

## Countries with the most observations

NZ (363)

## Summary

The draughtsboard shark (Cephaloscyllium isabellum; Māori: pekapeka) is a species of catshark, and part of the family Scyliorhinidae, so named for its "checkerboard" colour pattern of dark blotches. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is also known as the carpet shark (which usually refers to the entire order Orectolobiformes; also spelt carpertshark). This shark typically reaches 1 m (3.3 ft) in length and has a thick body with a broad, flattened head and a capacious mouth. Its two dorsal fins are placed far back on the body, with the first much larger than the second.
Occurring down to a depth of 673 m (2,208…

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

## Photo

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

Photo: lissybell · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/56817797

## Machine access

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