Shark Projects
Learn about sharks
All about sharks
Shark protection projects
Projects

Photo © Alexa Elliot

Photo © Alexa Elliot

Photo © Alexa Elliot

Learn about sharks

For example where and when they migrate

For example where and when they migrate

For example where and when they migrate

Photo © Guy Harvey Research Institute

Photo © Guy Harvey Research Institute

Photo © Guy Harvey Research Institute

Shark projects
We support research and public outreach projects

Photo © Matt Potensky

Photo © Matt Potensky

Photo © Matt Potensky

previous arrow
next arrow

The shark species "Zebra bullhead shark"

Photo
Zebra bullhead shark
Zebra bullhead shark
Photo © BluePlanetArchive.com

Photo © BluePlanetArchive.com

Range Map
North America South America Africa Australia Europe Asia Coming soon Coming soon
North America South America Africa Australia Europe Asia Coming soon Coming soon
Zebra bullhead shark

Rough area of distribution

Taxonomy
Kingdom:
Animals (Animalia)
Phylum:
Vertebrates (Chordata)
Class:
Cartilagenous fishes (Chondrichthyes)
Order:
Bullhead sharks (Heterodontiformes)
Family:
Bullhead sharks (Heterodontidae)
Genus:
Heterodontus
Names
Scientific:
Heterodontus zebra
English:
Zebra bullhead shark
German:
Zebra-Stierkopfhai
French:
Requin dormeur zebre
Spanish:
Dormilon acebrado
Appearance
Cylindrical trunk with conical head. Small spiracles behind and below the eyes. Very short snout, bluntly rounded. Supraorbital ridges low, not abruptly ending behind the eyes. Both dorsal fins with a stout fin spine. Origin of first dorsal fin over pectoral fin bases. Origin of second dorsal fin behind the free ends of the pelvic fins. Large pectoral fins. Anal fin present.
Coloration
Light brown to white body, with 12 narrow, vertical, brown or black stripes on body.
Distribution
Western Pacific: Japan, Korea, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Australia.
Biology
A little-known bottom-living species. Lives in moderate depths on the continental and insular shelves, down to a depth of at least 50 m.
Diet
Feeds probably on bottom invertebrates.
Size
Maximum length about 122 cm, average size between 80 and 100 cm.
Reproduction
Oviparous (egg laying). Eggs apparently have simple flat paired spiral flanges, nearly transverse to the egg axis with one single turn (visible on the sides). No tendrils on apex, but short ones on opposite end.
Similar Species
Color pattern unmistakable.
Vulnerability
Category: Least Concern (LC)
Criteria: -
Last evaluated: 2020
Trend: Decreasing

Danger to Humans
Harmless.


© IUCN 2023. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2023-1.
https://www.iucnredlist.org. Status 2023.


Support the Shark Foundation in its work to protect sharks.