Much of our understanding of the deep-sea painted swellshark comes from discoveries made when scientists encountered samples at fish markets in Bali and Lombok, Indonesia some years ago. early 2000s However, a recent study conducted in Timor-Leste employed inexpensive deep-sea cameras to document the painted swellshark in its natural habitat for the very first time. The researchers captured video clips of this elusive creature which were only recently shared. published an article on their observations.
Marine biologist Louw Claassens informed Mongabay via email that nothing is known regarding the behavior of this particular species. Claassens, who led the study as the principal author, was involved in deploying the deep-sea camera system from the National Geographic Exploration Technology Lab near Dili, Timor-Leste, when they spotted the creature recently.
She mentioned that the fish market sampling which resulted in the finding of the painted swellshark Cephaloscyllium pictum ) provided "scant ecological data," which is why their latest observations proved insightful.
“We were able to spot this species in their natural habitat...and we can confirm that it inhabits waters as deep as 570 meters [1870 feet]," she stated. Since the sharks were discovered near the coastline of Dili, Timor-Leste, this finding expands the known range of the painted swellshark by approximately 1,100 kilometers (3,600 miles).
The genus of swellsharks earned their name due to their capability to inflate themselves to double their size by ingesting water as a defense mechanism when confronted with danger. 2008 paper The painted swellshark was characterized by its pale, dark, and grayish spots and blotches, earning its appellation due to its "distinctively painted look."
The underwater cameras recorded images of the creatures on steep rock faces on November 17 and 18, 2024, at depths ranging from 570 meters (1,870 feet) to 536 meters (1,758 feet).
"At every location, the shark came back to the camera multiple times, and during the second observation, the female shark engaged with the bait and circled past the camera several times," the researchers observe.
Claassens informed Mongabay that "studying this kind of deepwater shark species can be challenging and costly." Usually, such research relies on examining specimens from fish markets or requires undertaking extensive deep-sea investigations which involve significant expenses like large vessels, substantial funding, and comprehensive exploratory missions.
"Accessing these affordable camera systems is truly transformative," she stated.
Kasie Coccaro, who serves as the senior director of the National Geographic Exploration Technology Lab (NGETL), informed Mongabay that NGETL contributed to part of this research through providing grants and access to advanced tools such as a sophisticated deep-sea imaging system. “ "Affordable, lightweight remotely operated landers," enabling scientists to gather environmental information and capture 4K ultra-high-definition video footage down to depths of 6,000 meters (19,685 feet).
Banner image Of a painted swellshark thanks to the National Geographic Exploration Technology Lab.
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This tale initially surfaced on Mongabay
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