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Horn shark Facts

Horn shark Facts
Horn shark is small species of shark that belongs to the bullhead shark family. It can be found in the warm coastal waters of north-east Pacific, usually near the continental shelves. Horn shark doesn't have commercial value, but it can be used as a fishmeal when it accidentally ends up trapped in the fishing nets. Its spines are used for the manufacture of jewelry. The greatest threat for the survival of horn shark is pollution of the sea. Exact number of the remaining horn sharks in the ocean is unknown and this species is classified as data deficient.
Interesting Horn shark Facts:
Horn shark can reach 27.5 to 47 inches in length.
Horn shark has brown or grey skin covered with numerous small dark spots.
Horn shark has short, blunt head with hard, horn-like ridges behind the eyes (hence the name), and two spines on dorsal fins. Horn shark has two types of teeth: small, hook-shaped front teeth and large, flat teeth on the sides of the jaws.
Horn shark is bottom-dweller. It spends most of its life on a depth of 6.5 to 35 feet, on the sandy flats and rocky reefs.
Horn shark is sluggish fish. It moves by pushing the body along the ocean floor using its muscular pectoral fins.
Horn shark is active during the night. It hides inside the caves, crevices of rocks and thick beds of algae during the day.
Horn shark hunts and eats hard-shelled mollusks and crustaceans. Small percent of diet is based on fish, squid, octopus, sea urchin and sea star.
Horn shark has powerful bite that facilitates opening of hard shells. When it eats too much sea urchins, teeth of horn shark become purple-colored.
Horn shark is solitary animal, but it can be occasionally seen in the small groups.
Horn shark spends its entire life on a territory of 1000 square meters. It migrates in deeper water during the winter, but it never travels more than 10 miles (the longest recorded distance traveled by horn shark).
Natural enemies of horn sharks are large species of fish and sharks and northern elephant seal.
Mating season of horn sharks takes place between December and January.
Female lays 24 eggs 4 to 5 months after mating. Eggs are laid in the shallow water during a period of 2 weeks.
Female collects her eggs (that float in the spiral casings in the ocean) with her mouth and transfer them in the crevices of rocks. Incubation period lasts 6 to 10 months, depending on a temperature. Pups (baby sharks) are 6 to 7 inches long at birth. They live on the remains of yolk until the age of one month, when they become ready to search food on their own.
Horn shark can survive 12 to 25 years in the captivity.


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