Amazing Species: Horn Shark
Edwin Butter © San Diego Zoo
Amazing Species: Horn Shark The Horn Shark, Heterodontus francisci, is listed as ‘Data Deficient’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM. They are endemic to the western coast of North America, with a depth range of 2 m to deeper than 100 m. They are slow swimming, bottom dwelling sharks and their activities are limited to periods of darkness. Horn Sharks have two dorsal fins each adorned with a sharp spine to help deter predators. Geographical range
www.iucnredlist.org www.iucnssg.org Save Our Species www.arkive.org
Threats to the Horn Shark are few, as commercial or recreational fisheries do not target them. However, sometimes they are used for human consumption or fishmeal and their fin spines are used for jewellery. In Mexico in particular, this shark species is an unfortunate victim of bycatch and is caught in traps, gillnets and trawls of some fisheries. There are no conservation measures in place for the Horn Shark, but they would benefit from restrictions on fishing gear to help reduce being caught as bycatch. More data is needed on wild populations of this species, so that any changes in population numbers can be noted and proper management and conservation measures implemented where necessary.
The production of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is made possible through the IUCN Red List Partnership.
Amazing Species: Horn Shark The Horn Shark, Heterodontus francisci, is listed as ‘Data Deficient’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM. They are endemic to the western coast of North America, with a depth range of 2 m to deeper than 100 m. They are slow swimming, bottom dwelling sharks and their activities are limited to periods of darkness. Horn Sharks have two dorsal fins each adorned with a sharp spine to help deter predators. Geographical range
www.iucnredlist.org www.iucnssg.org Save Our Species www.arkive.org
Threats to the Horn Shark are few, as commercial or recreational fisheries do not target them. However, sometimes they are used for human consumption or fishmeal and their fin spines are used for jewellery. In Mexico in particular, this shark species is an unfortunate victim of bycatch and is caught in traps, gillnets and trawls of some fisheries. There are no conservation measures in place for the Horn Shark, but they would benefit from restrictions on fishing gear to help reduce being caught as bycatch. More data is needed on wild populations of this species, so that any changes in population numbers can be noted and proper management and conservation measures implemented where necessary.
The production of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is made possible through the IUCN Red List Partnership.
