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| Common names: shark (English), hornshark (English), tiburón (Espanol) |
Heterodontus francisci (Girard, 1855)
Horn shark Pacific horn-shark
Head high, conical; snout piglike; mouth small, anterior; a low bony ridge above each eye that ends abruptly at rear; space between eyes deeply concave; nasal grooves before mouth; front teeth on both jaws with 1 large central point and a small point at each side on base of tooth; 5 gill slits, first enlarged, 2-3 over pectoral fin; 2 dorsal fins, each with spine at front; first dorsal fin origin over pectoral base; skin denticles on flank small (~ 200/cm2 in adults) and smooth.
Dark to light grey, back and sides with small dark spots < 1/3 eye diameter; no light bar between eyes; small darks spots on a dusky patch below eye; young brightly colored, with dark saddles.
Size: 122 cm.
Habitat: rocky and sandy habitats, and macroalgal beds.
Depth: 1-150 m, usually 2-11 m.
California to the western and NE Gulf of California; possibly Ecuador and Peru.