The Digital Fish Library

Distribution:
Western Indian Ocean and western and eastern Pacific

Habitat:
Marine

Remarks:
The Horn Sharks, also called Bullhead Sharks, live in warm-temperate and tropical continental waters of western Indian Ocean and western and eastern Pacific. These small sharks are nocturnal species, swimming slowly on rocky, kelp-covered, and sandy bottom. Some species spend their day resting in crevices and caves. They are described as the only living sharks with dorsal fin spines and an anal fin. Other characteristics include a short and blunt snout, small mouth, small spiracles, rough skin, and paddle-like paired fins. The Horn Shark can grow to maximum reported length of 1.6 m.

This family consists of one genus, Heterodontus, with eight species.

References:
Compagno 1984