Family HETERODONTIDAE

Heterodontus portusjacksoni

© Copyright A.R. McCulloch reproduced in Whitley 1934

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Introduction

The Heterodontidae comprise one genus and nine species from the western Indian Ocean and the western and eastern Pacific. Last & Stevens (1994, 2009), Compagno & Niem (1998), Compagno (2001) and Compagno et al. (2005) treated the three Australian species.

Most species occur on the continental shelf to 275 m in tropical and warm temperate regions of the world, usually in rocky areas. Horn sharks are characterised by having a strong spine before each of the two dorsal fins, and molariform teeth. They produce large spiral egg cases and feed largely on sea urchins, shrimps, prawns, molluscs and other marine invertebrates. Heterodontids reach a length of about 1.7 m.

The horn sharks (or Port Jackson sharks) were reviewed by Taylor (1972). Compagno (1984, 2001) reviewed the taxonomy and biology of the species and Reif (1976) discussed tooth morphology and development.

Fossils are known from Europe.

General References

Compagno, L.J.V. 1984. FAO Species Catalogue. Sharks of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Hexanchiformes to Lamniformes. FAO Fisheries Synopsis No. 125. Rome : FAO Vol. 4(1) pp. 1-249.

Compagno, L.J.V. 2001. Sharks of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Bullhead, mackerel and carpet sharks (Heterodontiformes, Lamniformes and Orectolobiformes). Rome : FAO, FAO Species Catalogue for Fisheries Purposes No. 1 Vol. 2 269 pp.

Compagno, L.J.V., Dando, M. & Fowler, S. 2005. A Field Guide to the Sharks of the World. London : Collins 368 pp.

Compagno, L.J.V. & Niem, V.H. 1998. Families Squatinidae, Heterodontidae, Parascylliidae, Brachaeluridae, Orectolobidae, Hemiscylliidae. pp. 1235-1259 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 2 687-1396 pp.

Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 1994. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Canberra : CSIRO Australia 513 pp. 84 pls.

Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 2009. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing Australia 2, 550 pp. [117]

Reif, W.E. 1976. Morphogenesis, pattern formation and function of the dentition of Heterodontus (Selachii). Zoomorphology (Berlin) 83: 1-47 figs 1-39

Taylor, L.R. Jr 1972. A Revision of the Shark Family Heterodontidae. Unpublished PhD Thesis, University California, San Diego. [not seen]

Whitley, G.P. 1934. Notes on some Australian sharks. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 10(4): 180-200 figs 1-4 pls 27-29 [pl. 27]

Common Name References

Compagno, L.J.V. 2001. Sharks of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Bullhead, mackerel and carpet sharks (Heterodontiformes, Lamniformes and Orectolobiformes). Rome : FAO, FAO Species Catalogue for Fisheries Purposes No. 1 Vol. 2 269 pp. [33] (FAO) (Bullhead Sharks)

Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 1994. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Canberra : CSIRO Australia 513 pp. 84 pls. [112] (Horn Sharks)

Paxton, J.R., Hoese, D.F., Allen, G.R. & Hanley, J.E. (eds) 1989. Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Pisces: Petromyzontidae to Carangidae. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service Vol. 7 665 pp. [95] (Port Jackson Sharks)

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