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Photo © Alexa Elliot
Photo © Alexa Elliot
Photo © Alexa Elliot
Typical species:
Port Jackson shark
Photo © BluePlanetArchive.com
Families:
1
Genera:
1
Species:
9
Bullhead sharks
The order of the bullhead sharks comprises one family with only one genus.There are only 9 known species of bullhead sharks. These bizarre looking sharks possess strong spines in front of both dorsal fins.
As opposed to the other "spine-wearing" group, the dogfishes, bullhead sharks possess anal fins. As their name implies, their heads are very dominant with big ridges above their eyes and they have a broad snout with very large labial furrows. Based on their heterogeneous teeth (their scientific name "Heterodontus"stands for different shaped teeth) they are considered as primitive group.
Members of this order live only in the waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Typical species:
Horn shark
Photo © Jeremy Safford-Deitsch
Bullhead sharks
This small family, consisting of 8 species, is restricted to temperate and tropical waters of the Pacific and the Indian Ocean. Bullhead sharks are often called "Port Jackson" sharks, since the first described species of this family was found in the named area of Australia. Bullhead sharks possess strong spines in front of their dorsal fins. Their heads look very dominant with big ridges above their eyes, and a broad pig-like snout with very large labial furrows. Bullhead sharks are considered an ancient or primitive group of sharks due to their hybodont type of teeth. Based on their heterogeneous teeth (their scientific name "hetero-dontus" stands for different shaped teeth) they are enable to crack and tear food. Bullhead sharks are bottom dwellers and show an oviparous (egg-laying) style of reproduction.