Catalog of Fishes
literature references
FishBase
Bold Systems
IUCN Red List
GBIF
NCBI GenBank
Heterodontus francisci
(Girard, 1855)
Horn shark
Classification: Elasmobranchii Heterodontiformes Heterodontidae
Reference of the original description
Characteristics of some cartilaginous fishes of the Pacific coast of North America. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 7, 196–197
Characteristics of some cartilaginous fishes of the Pacific coast of North America. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 7, 196–197
Image of the original description
No image in first description.
No image in first description.
Synonyms / new combinations and misspellings
Centracion francisci, Cestracion francisci, Cestracion (Heterodontus) francisci, Gyropleurodus francisci, Heterodontus aff. francisci, Heterodontus ex gr. francisci, Heterodontus (Cestracion) francisi
Centracion francisci, Cestracion francisci, Cestracion (Heterodontus) francisci, Gyropleurodus francisci, Heterodontus aff. francisci, Heterodontus ex gr. francisci, Heterodontus (Cestracion) francisi
Description :
Citation: Heterodontus francisci (Girard, 1855): In: Database of modern sharks, rays and chimaeras, www.shark-references.com, World Wide Web electronic publication, Version 12/2024
Please send your images of "Heterodontus francisci" to info@shark-references.com
Heterodontus francisci (Girard, 1855), ERB 1172, female, 38, 8 cm TL, California, USA © Frederik H. Mollen (Elasmobranch Research Belgium)
Heterodontus francisci (Girard, 1855), ERB 1172, female, 38, 8 cm TL, California, USA © Frederik H. Mollen (Elasmobranch Research Belgium)
Common names
Stierkopfhai, 
Dormilón cornudo, Gata, Tiburón cabeza de toro, Tiburón cornudo, Tiburón gato, Tiburón puerco, 
Requin dormeur cornu, 
Horn shark
Stierkopfhai, Dormilón cornudo, Gata, Tiburón cabeza de toro, Tiburón cornudo, Tiburón gato, Tiburón puerco, Requin dormeur cornu, Horn shark
Distribution
Eastern Pacific: central California, USA to the Gulf of California, and probably Ecuador and Peru. Source: www.gbif.org
Eastern Pacific: central California, USA to the Gulf of California, and probably Ecuador and Peru. Source: www.gbif.org
Human uses
fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: public aquariums; price category: not marketed/unknown; price reliability:
fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: public aquariums; price category: not marketed/unknown; price reliability:
Biology
Oviparous [17086]. Distinct pairing with embrace [17086]. Courtship starts when the male chases the female, then when both are ready, they drop to the bottom [531]. During courtship and prior to copulation, the male bites and wraps its body to the female pectoral fin, body, tail, and gills (Ref. 51127, 49562). The male then inserts a single clasper in the female"quot;s cloaca; copulation lasts 30 to 40 min. After one or two weeks later, the eggs are laid in about 11 to 14 intervals for 4 months which were deposited under rocks or in crevices, as was observed in nature. In captivity, the female drops the eggs on the bottom where the contents of the egg cases maybe eaten by these sharks; the eggs are hatched in 7 to 9 months. The young begin to feed one month after hatching [531]. Sluggish, nocturnal, and mostly solitary species. Inhabits rocky bottoms, kelp beds, sandy draws between rocks, on sand flats, deep crevices and small caves and also large underwater caverns. Adults tend to return to the same resting place every day [531]. Feeds on benthic invertebrates, especially sea urchins, crabs and probably abalone, also fishes[17641]
Oviparous [17086]. Distinct pairing with embrace [17086]. Courtship starts when the male chases the female, then when both are ready, they drop to the bottom [531]. During courtship and prior to copulation, the male bites and wraps its body to the female pectoral fin, body, tail, and gills (Ref. 51127, 49562). The male then inserts a single clasper in the female"quot;s cloaca; copulation lasts 30 to 40 min. After one or two weeks later, the eggs are laid in about 11 to 14 intervals for 4 months which were deposited under rocks or in crevices, as was observed in nature. In captivity, the female drops the eggs on the bottom where the contents of the egg cases maybe eaten by these sharks; the eggs are hatched in 7 to 9 months. The young begin to feed one month after hatching [531]. Sluggish, nocturnal, and mostly solitary species. Inhabits rocky bottoms, kelp beds, sandy draws between rocks, on sand flats, deep crevices and small caves and also large underwater caverns. Adults tend to return to the same resting place every day [531]. Feeds on benthic invertebrates, especially sea urchins, crabs and probably abalone, also fishes[17641]
Remarks
shark-references Species-ID=2769;
shark-references Species-ID=2769;
Parasites (arranged by Jürgen Pollerspöck)
Cestoda
Trematoda
Nematoda
Copepoda
Isopoda
Cestoda
- Acanthobothrium bajaensis Appy & Dailey, 1973 [16181] [23771] [28741]
- Acanthobothrium puertecitense Caira & Zahner, 2001 [7380] [23771] [28741]
- Acanthobothrium santarosaliense Caira & Zahner, 2001 [23771]
- Acanthobothrium sp. [23771]
- Nybelinia anthicosum Heinz & Dailey, 1974 [16323] [16112] [23771]
Trematoda
- Otodistomum veliporum (Creplin, 1837) Stafford, 1904 [23771]
Nematoda
- Echinocephalus pseudouncinatus Millemann, 1951 [23394] [23771]
- Phlyctainophora squali Mudry & Dailey, 1969 [15949]
Copepoda
- Eudactylinodes keratophagus Deets & Benz, 1986 [15946]
- Trebius heterodonti Deets & Dojiri, 1989 [14624]
Isopoda
- Nerocila acuminata Schioedte & Meinert, 1883 [17080]
Image gallery
