We measured the standard and postfeeding metabolic rates of a sedentary shark, the swellshark, Cephaloscyllium ventriosum (Scyliorhinidae). The average standard metabolic rate (SMR) of juvenile swellsharks (0.14–0.23 kg) was 44.3 ± 6.4 mg O₂ kg⁻¹ h⁻¹. Metabolic rate increased and reached a maximum approximately 9 h postfeeding. The maximum postfeeding metabolic rate averaged 2.3 times SMR, and the entire duration of the response was approximately 12 h. The overall pattern and magnitude of the postfeeding response is similar to those previously reported for the small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula; Scyliorhinidae) and for many teleosts. The return to a prefeeding metabolic rate appears to be much more rapid in the swellshark than in the small-spotted catshark.

Section editor: R. E. Gatten Jr