Port Jackson shark

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Port Jackson shark
Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Subclass: Elasmobranchii Order: Heterodontiformes Family: Heterodontidae Genus: Heterodontus Species: H. portusjacksoni
Binomial name
Heterodontus portusjacksoni (Meyer, 1793)

The Port Jackson shark, Heterodontus portusjacksoni, is a type of bullhead shark found in the coastal region of southern Australia, including the waters off Port Jackson.

They have a large head with prominent forehead ridges and dark brown harness-like markings on a lighter gray-brown body.

They are a migratory species, travelling south in the summer and returning north to breed in the winter months. They feed on hard-shelled mollusks, crustaceans, sea urchins, and fish. They lay about 15 eggs, which they wedge into rock crevices and among kelp. The eggs hatch in approximately 10 months. Females mature in 11 to 14 years and males in 8 to 10 years.

[edit] References

• "Heterodontus portusjacksoni". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. 06 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
• Heterodontus portusjacksoni (TSN 159798). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 13 June 2006.

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[edit] External links

• Information from the Australian Museum Fish Site
• Photographs and information from the Marine Species Gallary of Scuba Equipment USA
• Port Jackson Shark info from Abyss Scuba Diving