---
title: "Puffadder Shyshark"
description: "Haploblepharus edwardsii — Fish. The puffadder shyshark (Haploblepharus edwardsii), also known as the Happy Eddie, is a species of shark belonging to the family Pentanchidae, the deepwater catsharks."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/puffadder-shyshark
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Puffadder Shyshark

> Haploblepharus edwardsii — Fish. The puffadder shyshark (Haploblepharus edwardsii), also known as the Happy Eddie, is a species of shark belonging to the family Pentanchidae, the deepwater catsharks.

- Scientific name: *Haploblepharus edwardsii*
- Category: `fish` (Fish)
- Habitats: `sea` (Sea & coast)
- iNaturalist observations: 1017
- Wikidata: [Q612558](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q612558)
- iNaturalist taxon: [102101](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/102101)

## Names

- en: Puffadder Shyshark
- de: Puffotter-Katzenhai
- es: Tiburón perro

## Countries with the most observations

ZA (947)

## Summary

The puffadder shyshark (Haploblepharus edwardsii), also known as the Happy Eddie, is a species of shark belonging to the family Pentanchidae, the deepwater catsharks. This species is endemic to the temperate waters off the coast of South Africa. This common shark is found on or near the bottom in sandy or rocky habitats, from the intertidal zone to a depth of 130 m (430 ft). Typically reaching 60 cm (24 in) in length, the puffadder shyshark has a slender, flattened body and head. It is strikingly patterned with a series of dark-edged, bright orange "saddles" and numerous small white spots over its back. The Natal…

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

## Photo

![Puffadder Shyshark](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/puffadder-shyshark/medium.jpg)

Photo: bdhimes · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/189849436

## Machine access

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