Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Chondrichthyes
- Order
- Myliobatiformes
- Family
- Heterodontidae
- Genus
- Heterodontus
- Species
- francisci
Habitat
Horn sharks inhabit rocky reefs, kelp forests, and sandy bottoms along the continental shelf. They are found in the eastern Pacific Ocean, primarily from southern California to the Gulf of California, at depths ranging from shallow intertidal zones to about 200 meters. They prefer areas with plenty of crevices for hiding during the day.
Diet
Horn sharks primarily feed on mollusks, such as clams and snails, as well as crustaceans like crabs and sea urchins, and occasionally small fish. They use their strong, molar-like teeth to crush hard shells, employing a suction feeding method to capture prey. Feeding activity peaks at night when they actively forage along the seafloor.
Behavior
Horn sharks are primarily solitary and nocturnal, spending the day wedged into rock crevices or under ledges for protection. They exhibit territorial behavior around their home ranges, defending feeding areas from others of their species. Despite their spines, they are not aggressive towards humans and often remain motionless when encountered.
Conservation Status
Listed as Data Deficient by IUCN.