Whaler Sharks - seafdec.org.my

44 S h a r k s a n d R a y s o f B o r n e o
Zebra Hornshark
Heterodontus zebra (Gray, 1831)
2
1
3
1
Other names: Zebra Bullhead Shark, Zebra Port Jackson Shark, Bullhead Shark
(English), Hiu (Indonesian), Yu Kebut (Malaysian)
Identifying features:
1 dorsal fins preceded by strong spines
2 head large and blunt with low crests over eyes
3 pale with numerous dark, narrow bands
4 nostrils connected to mouth by a groove
5 mouth small, near snout tip
6 anterior teeth small, pointed, multicuspid
7 posterior teeth molar-like with medial ridges
Size: To at least 122 cm; males mature from about 61 cm; hatch at about 15 cm.
Distribution: Western Pacific, from Japan southwards through the Philippines, Borneo
and Indonesia to northern Australia.
Habitat and biology: Common, but poorly known; continental and insular shelves
mostly down to about 50 m, but deeper off Australia (150–200 m). Biology poorly
known; oviparous, with large, screw-shaped egg cases that are presumably lodged into
rocky crevices during embryonic development. Diet unknown, probably consists of
benthic invertebrates such as sea urchins and crustaceans.
Utilisation: Rarely caught and of little commercial value. Meat sold as fillets; fins have
no value.