Jump to content

Bullhead shark: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
m Cleanup
GrahamBould (talk | contribs)
m →‎Species: Genus superfluous
Line 49: Line 49:
== Species ==
== Species ==
There are nine living species of bullhead shark:
There are nine living species of bullhead shark:

''''Genus ''Heterodontus'''''
* [[Horn shark]], ''[[Heterodontus francisci]]'' <small>(Girard, 1855)</small> <ref>[http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?ID=739&genusname=Heterodontus&speciesname=francisci FishBase]</ref>
* [[Horn shark]], ''[[Heterodontus francisci]]'' <small>(Girard, 1855)</small> <ref>[http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?ID=739&genusname=Heterodontus&speciesname=francisci FishBase]</ref>
* [[Crested bullhead shark]], ''[[Heterodontus galeatus]]'' <small>(Günther, 1870)</small> <ref>[http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?ID=740&genusname=Heterodontus&speciesname=galeatus FishBase]</ref>
* [[Crested bullhead shark]], ''[[Heterodontus galeatus]]'' <small>(Günther, 1870)</small> <ref>[http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?ID=740&genusname=Heterodontus&speciesname=galeatus FishBase]</ref>

Revision as of 18:21, 23 January 2009

Bullhead sharks
Temporal range: 174–0 Ma Late Toarcian to Present[1]
Two Port Jackson sharks (Heterodontus portusjacksoni)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Subclass:
Superorder:
Order:
Heterodontiformes

Berg, 1940
Family:
Heterodontidae

Gray, 1851
Genus:
Heterodontus

Species

See text.

Template:Sharksportal The bullhead sharks are a small order (Heterodontiformes) of basal (primitive) modern sharks (Neoselachii). There are nine living species in a single genus, Heterodontus, in the family Heterodontidae. All are relatively small, with the largest species being just 150 centimetres (59 in) in adult length. They are bottom feeders in tropical and subtropical waters.

The Heterodontiforms appear in the fossil record in the Early Jurassic, well before any of the other Galeomorphii, a group which includes all modern sharks except the dogfish and its relatives. However, they have never been common, and it is likely their origin lies even further back.

Description

The Heterodontiforms are morphologically rather distinctive. The mouth is located entirely anterior to the orbits. Labial cartilages are found in the most anterior part of the mouth. Nasoral grooves are present, connecting the external nares to the mouth. The nasal capsules are "trumpet-shaped" & well-separated from orbits. Circumnarial skin folds present; but the rostral process of neurocranium (braincase) absent, although a precerebral fossa is present. Finally, the braincase bears a supraorbital crest.

The eyes lack a nictitating membrane. A spiracle is present, but small. The dorsal ends of branchial arches 4 and 5 are attached, but not fused into a "pickaxe" as in lamniform sharks. Heterodontiforms have 2 dorsal fins, with fin spines, as well as an anal fin. The dorsal and anal fin also contain basal cartilages, not just fin rays.

Species

There are nine living species of bullhead shark:

References

  1. ^ Sepkoski, Jack (2002). "A compendium of fossil marine animal genera (Chondrichthyes entry)". Bulletins of American Paleontology. 364: p.560. Retrieved 2008-01-09. {{cite journal}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  2. ^ FishBase
  3. ^ FishBase
  4. ^ FishBase
  5. ^ FishBase
  6. ^ FishBase
  7. ^ FishBase
  8. ^ FishBase
  9. ^ FishBase