Horn Shark

 It is known as the horn shark, horned shark, or Heterodontus Francisci , the latter being its scientific name . It is part of the family Heterodontidae and is a species of heterodontiform elasmobranch .

Where does the horn shark live?

This peculiar fish has few habitat areas, it is usually located in Mexico, specifically in the Sea of ​​Cortez, and in Central California of the United States. Although, there are records that indicate their presence in countries such as Peru and Ecuador, but it is believed that they must be very low populations.

Their preferred areas are caverns, large rocks, forests full of algae, and reefs in general, at distances from the surface that vary according to the age of the specimen, but are usually between 2 and 150 meters in depth. depth.

Young horn sharks tend to be in a constant state of movement, while the adults go out for their nightly hunt, but return to their hiding places daily when they want to be at rest.

Horn Shark Characteristics

They are small sharks with a total extension of around 120 centimeters, in fact they are classified within the group of smaller sharks. As for its weight, it is determined by the age and sex of the fish, and is between 2 and 5 kilograms in total.

Their fins have different shapes, and they have small spines with which they constantly rub against the stones and other solid parts of the reefs, which is why they wear out over time.

Its snout is small, the shape of the mouth has a curved design with very obvious grooves, the teeth also vary in shape and size depending on the position, being able to regenerate in a period of approximately 5 weeks.

They are light brown in color, with many black dots located throughout the length of their skin. His eyes become large, and are located on the sides of his head, which is wide and round, very prominent compared to the rest of his body.

What do horn sharks eat?

Small crustaceans and molluscs are the favorite menu of this species, which it tends to destroy easily, given the force of pressure it exerts with its jaw. They usually use the ampullae of Lorenzini to locate their prey, as well as their olfactory organs, which are highly developed compared to those of other sharks.

Do horn sharks eat people?

It has been proven that human meat is not within its food chain , also, due to its small size, it is considered almost impossible for it to hunt a person.

However, they react aggressively when disturbed, and can cause very painful injuries with their spine (located in the dorsal fin), which can even cause fainting, and, therefore, the imminent danger of drowning.

Reproduction of horn sharks

They are oviparous, that is, they reproduce by means of eggs , which are approximately 14 centimeters long and whose shape resembles that of a spiral. The mating process occurs between the months of December and January, only once a year.

The sexual maturity of this species is complete when the female measures more than 50 centimeters and the male reaches 60 centimeters, and it is when the latter chases the female in an instinctive and repetitive way, until he reaches her and gives soft bites that indicate the interest in mating with her.

Each female is capable of creating 20 to 24 eggs, and places them under the sand, at a depth of at least 10 meters from the surface. Meanwhile, the eggs take between half a year and up to 10 months to hatch, it all depends on the temperature and other climatic factors.

Horn shark life expectancy

This wonderful shark can live for many years , although in its natural state the exact amount has not yet been determined, but in captivity it reaches 12 years and, in some cases, exceeds 20.

Is the horn shark in danger of extinction?

The IUCN knows very little about the statistical population of these sharks, and that is why it is kept in the "data deficient" group, so it is not known whether or not it is in danger of extinction.

Curiosities of the horn shark

• It is one of the smallest sharks, but it has a great character as it has come to chase and bite divers who were investigating.
• They adapt very well to captivity, reaching to live very long periods.
• They hide their eggs in the sand, and never get to know the young after they hatch.
• The males chase the females tirelessly to show their interest in mating with them.