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The shark species "Mexican hornshark"

Photo
Mexican hornshark
Mexican hornshark
Photo © BluePlanetArchive.com

Photo © BluePlanetArchive.com

Range Map
North America South America Africa Australia Europe Asia Coming soon Coming soon
North America South America Africa Australia Europe Asia Coming soon Coming soon
Mexican hornshark

Rough area of distribution

Taxonomy
Kingdom:
Animals (Animalia)
Phylum:
Vertebrates (Chordata)
Class:
Cartilagenous fishes (Chondrichthyes)
Order:
Bullhead sharks (Heterodontiformes)
Family:
Bullhead sharks (Heterodontidae)
Genus:
Heterodontus
Names
Scientific:
Heterodontus mexicanus
English:
Mexican hornshark
German:
Mexikanischer Stierkopfhai
French:
Requin dormeur buffle
Spanish:
Dormilon bufalo
Appearance
Cylindrical trunk with conical head, small spiracles behind and below the eyes. Very short snout, bluntly rounded. Supraorbital ridges low which do not end abruptly behind the eyes. Both dorsal fins have a stout fin spine. Origin of first dorsal fin over base of pectoral fins. Origin of second dorsal fin behind insertion (end) of pelvic fins. Pelvic fins as large or larger than dorsal fins. Large pectoral fins. Anal fin present.
Coloration
Grey-brown. Scattered large black spots on fins and body, light transverse band between supraorbital ridge on the interorbital space.
Distribution
Eastern Pacific: Southern Baja California, Gulf of California, Guatemala, Gulf of Panama, Colombia.
Biology
Lives on rocky bottom and sandy areas, from inshore waters down to at least 20 m.
Diet
Feeds on invertebrates.
Size
Maximum size about 70 cm, average size between 50 and 60 cm.
Reproduction
Oviparous (egg laying). Egg cases with thick T-shaped spiral flanges (paired), case apex with very long tendrils, 5 turns visible on sides.
Similar Species
Other bullhead sharks have a similar appearance but this species is the only on in the described area.
Vulnerability
Category: Least Concern (LC)
Criteria: -
Last evaluated: 2020
Trend: Stable




© IUCN Red List 2024. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Version 2024-2.

Danger to Humans
Harmless.

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