FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes Western

1240 Sharks
Heterodontus galeatus (Günther, 1870)
En - Crested bullhead shark; Fr - Requin dormeur à crête; Sp - Dormilón carenado.
Maximum total length about 1.3 m. A moderately common benthic and epibenthic shark of the
continental shelves from close inshore to a depth of about 90 m. Feeds primarily on sea urchins
(echinoids), but also on crustaceans, molluscs, and small fishes. Of minor interest to fisheries.
Western South Pacific of Australia from southern Queensland to New South Wales.
Heterodontus portusjacksoni (Meyer, 1793)
En - Port Jackson shark; Fr - Requin dormeur taureau; Sp - Dormilón toro.
Maximum total length about 1.65 m. A common shark of the continental shelves from close inshore
to depths of at least 275 m. Feeds on benthic invertebrates, primarily echinoderms. Taken by bottom
trawls, shrimp nets, beach seines, bottom longlines, and by rod and reel, but probably little utilized.
Southern Australia from the Houtman Abrolhos (western Australia) to New South Wales, including
Tasmania; a single record from New Zealand.
Heterodontus zebra (Gray, 1831)
(after Last and Stevens, 1994)
(after Last and Stevens, 1994)
En - Zebra bullhead shark; Fr - Requin dormeur zèbre; Sp - Dormilón acebrado.
Maximum total length about 1.22 m. A common but little-known bottom shark of the continental and
insular shelves in depths down to at least 50 m. Probably feeds on bottom invertebrates. Of minor
interest to fisheries. Distributed from Japan, Korea, China, and Viet Nam to Indonesia; also known
from northern Australia.
(after Last and Stevens, 1994)