THE FINS UNITED INITIATIVE
  • About TFUI
    • TFUI Origins >
      • About TFUI Founder Melissa
      • TFUI Officers
    • Take a Bite
    • Get Involved
    • FAQ
  • Bite Blog
  • Education
    • The Sharks >
      • Shark Anatomy
    • The Skates & Rays
    • The Chimaeras
    • Why Environments Matter
    • The Threats
    • Open Access >
      • Behind the Fins: Interview series
      • Bite into Research
      • Shark Bites: Book Recommendations
      • Sustainable Seafood Apps
  • Fins United
    • Shark Party Ideas
    • Little Fins Nursery
    • Big Fins Reef
  • Contact

Crested bullhead shark

2/17/2016

 
Picture© Unknown
Melissa is the kind of girl that finds certain things cute: puppies, bunnies, kitties, babies, etc. One thing that she finds extra cute that many others- girls and guys- alike don’t find so cute? Sharks.
The crested bullhead shark (Heterodontus galeatus) is definitely in the top of her, “What sharks Melissa finds cute” list.
I mean, that face.
That mouth.
Those little teeth. Swoon.

These cute critters are seen off the eastern coast of Australia (figures… they have adorable quokkas, the platypus, kangaroos and koalas, of course they get a cute shark). However, they’re an uncommon resident in the bullhead shark family (Heterodontidae), seen anywhere from the coast to 93 m (305 ft). They are rather small (only reaching a max length of 1.2 m/ 4 ft), have large ridges above their eyes and sport a large, blotchy pattern throughout their body. They are nocturnal bottom-dwellers who favor rocky reefs and highly vegetative areas. 

"Do they like eating sea grass?"
No! They hunt for sea urchins (
Centrostephanus rodgersii and Heliocidaris erythrogramma) and other small critters like invertebrates and fishes. In fact, they even eat Port Jackson shark eggs! These nutrient-filled cases are a delightful treat for the crested bullhead, and are sometimes eaten whole or have the developing embryos sucked out. Good for the crested bullhead, not so much for the Port Jackson shark. 

They are oviparous, and unlike the spiraled egg cases that the Port Jackson sharks lay, theirs are auger-shaped. These are secured to seaweed, coral, and sponges with their sticky tendrils. 


The IUCN has listed these harmless sharks as Least Concern (LC), as it is rarely caught as bycatch or in shark nets.

who wants to head to australia to see these sharks?

glossary

  • Bycatch: The part of a fishery’s catch that is made up of non-target species. 
  • Invertebrates: Animals with no backbone (i.e. crustaceans, jellyfish, corals, sea anemones).
  • IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature.
  • Nocturnal: Active at night.
  • Oviparity/oviparous: Where adult Chondrichthyans lay eggcases (also known as ‘mermaid’s purses) and the baby develops inside the egg before hatching.
  • Pups: Baby sharks.

say hello!

you may also like:

Picture
FRILLED SHARK
Picture
COBBLER WOBBEGONG SHARK
Picture
BLACKNOSE SHARK

Comments are closed.

    Author

    TFUI Founder Melissa C. Marquez is author of all animal bios and "Behind the Fins" segments.
    ​
    A proud #LatinainSTEM, Marquez is a marine biologist who focuses on shark habitat use and movements; she is also a science communicator (follow her on Twitter) who focuses on diverse Chondrichthyan education and who focuses on the media coverage of sharks.
    You can learn more about her on her website.

    SEE MELISSA'S TEDx TALK HERE:

    Archives

    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016

    Subscribe to The Fins United Initiative's monthly newsletter.

    SEARCH BY CATEGORIES

    Picture
    SHARKS
    Picture
    SKATES &
    ​RAYS
    Picture
    CHIMAERA

    READER FAVORITES

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM

    @finsunitedinitiative
    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • About TFUI
    • TFUI Origins >
      • About TFUI Founder Melissa
      • TFUI Officers
    • Take a Bite
    • Get Involved
    • FAQ
  • Bite Blog
  • Education
    • The Sharks >
      • Shark Anatomy
    • The Skates & Rays
    • The Chimaeras
    • Why Environments Matter
    • The Threats
    • Open Access >
      • Behind the Fins: Interview series
      • Bite into Research
      • Shark Bites: Book Recommendations
      • Sustainable Seafood Apps
  • Fins United
    • Shark Party Ideas
    • Little Fins Nursery
    • Big Fins Reef
  • Contact