Horn shark (Heterodontus francisci)

Scientific name: Heterodontus francisci Girard, 1855

Horn shark (Heterodontus francisci)

The Horn shark (Heterodontus francisci) is a marine fish of the family Heterodontidae. Native range: Eastern Pacific, central California, USA to the Gulf of California, and probably Ecuador and Peru.

Biology

Sluggish, nocturnal, and mostly solitary species. Inhabit rocky bottoms, kelp beds, sandy draws between rocks, on sand flats, deep crevices and small caves and also large underwater caverns. Adults tend to return to the same resting place every day. Feed on benthic invertebrates, especially sea urchins, crabs and probably abalone, also fishes. Oviparous. May bite back when harassed. Has broad muscular paired fins used as limbs for clambering on the bottom. Catch reduced to fish meal; fin spines used in production of jewels.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Heterodontus francisci
Family
Heterodontidae (Bullhead / horn / Port Jackson sharks)
Order
Heterodontiformes (Bullhead and Horn sharks)
Class
Elasmobranchii (Sharks and Rays)
Maximum length
122
Common length
97.0
Depth range
2–150 m (7–492 ft)
Environment
Marine; demersal; depth range 2 - 150 m, usually 2 - 11 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Eastern Pacific: central California, USA to the Gulf of California, and probably Ecuador and Peru.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Data deficient (DD)
Threat to humans
Traumatogenic
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: public aquariums
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec=20)

More other marine fish

See all other marine fish

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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