Horn Shark: Habitat And Characteristics
In the depths of the sea, there are countless species that amaze us every day. With regard to sharks, for example, there are different types, and each one with different characteristics. Would you like to meet some of them? Well this time, let’s talk about the horn shark.
Everything you need to know about the horn shark
Characteristics
Its scientific name is ‘ Heterodontus francisci ‘, which might lead us to think of a large animal with a huge protruding horn.
But the truth is that it is the smallest shark in existence, as well as being very special because of the colors it presents.
This species was recognized in the year 1855, when Charles Frederic Girard carried out the first research on it, published in the “Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia”.
It has a small but broad head, and the muzzle is rounded. Unlike other fish, the horn shark does not have a membrane in its eyes.
Its jaw is curved and very small, in which it is possible to find between 19 and 26 rows of teeth in the upper area, and 18 to 29 rows in the lower part.
Its body is shaped like a cylinder, although its protruding dermal denticles stand out – which are in no way harmful, as they are soft.
Their skin colors are very striking, although, as a rule, they present a tone with darker patches on the sides.
On average, they can measure up to 1.2 meters, although few individuals exceed one meter in length.
Its two fins are scythe-shaped and have a thick spine at the front, which is the least protruding among the horns of sharks that live on reefs , as, due to friction with these, they suffer more wear.
horn shark habitat
Horn sharks are present in the Pacific Ocean, in areas ranging from California to the Gulf of this region. They have also been seen in San Francisco, Ecuador and Peru.
They usually live in coves and eleven meters deep in the sea. But when the cold season arrives, they head for beaches up to 30 meters deep.
However, the younger ones, who do not reach half a meter in length, prefer depths of 40 to 150 meters and, as they grow, move to shallower waters.
In relation to its territory, it rarely exceeds 1000 square meters in size. In fact, the longest distance traveled by a horn shark is believed to have been about 10 miles.
When they choose a place to live, they can stay there for a lifetime, regardless of whether they migrate or not. After migration, they return to the same place of origin. This is something few fish do.
Behavior
When we hear the word “ shark ”, the first question that comes to mind is whether it is dangerous. Well no, the horn shark is not dangerous.
In fact, he’s a slow and clumsy swimmer, perhaps because his eyesight isn’t very keen. He likes to be alone and is a nocturnal animal.
In other words, at night he is active in search of food, while during the day he stays in the same place, which is usually a cave or grotto.
It feeds on hard shell mollusks such as crabs and sea urchins, for example. It is believed that your jaw has the power to create a very strong bite, despite its size.
They suck their prey to introduce them into their oral cavity and then carry them to the front teeth, where they tear it apart with the help of their side teeth.
That’s all we can say about the horn shark, a work of nature’s art that surprised us and that we wanted you to know too.
