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The shark species "Galapagos bullhead shark"

Photo
Galapagos bullhead shark
Galapagos bullhead shark
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
Galapagos bullhead shark

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 quoyi
English:
Galapagos bullhead shark , Peruvian horn shark
German:
Galapagos-Stierkopfhai
French:
Requin dormeur bouledogue
Spanish:
Dormilón de Galapagos , Gato , Suno , Tiburón Gato de Galápagos , Tiburón Tamborín
Appearance
Cylindrical trunk with conical head, small spiracles behind and below the eyes. Very short snout, bluntly rounded. Low supraorbital ridges that do not abruptly end behind the eyes. Both dorsal fins with a stout fin spine. Origin of first dorsal fin behind pectoral fin bases. Origin of second dorsal fin well behind the pelvic fins. Large pectoral fins. Anal fin present.
Coloration
Light brown or grey with large black spots (greater than 1/2 eye diameter in width) over entire body. No light transverse band on interorbital space present.
Distribution
Eastern Pacific: Peru and Galapagos Islands
Biology
Lives in inshore continental and offshore waters, preferably on the bottom. A little-known species.
Diet
Feeds primarily on crabs.
Size
Maximum size about 60 cm, average size between 40 and 50 cm.
Reproduction
Most likely oviparous (egg laying). Shape of egg cases uncertain. Size at maturity unsure,though one male was 48 cm. Hatch size is also uncertain, though one young was 17 cm.
Similar Species
Although other "bullhead sharks" have a similar appearance the distribution and color pattern of this species are very distinctive.
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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