Zebra bullhead shark
📖 Overview
A common but little-known shark found on the continental and insular shelves in depths down to at least 50 m in the South China Sea, but deeper and in 150 - 200 meters off Western Australia . Probably feeds on bottom invertebrates and small fishes . Oviparous .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 2; Anal spines: 0. The Zebra bullhead shark, Heterodontus zebra, has a large blunt head, low supra-orbital crest gradually sloping behind eyes, dorsal fin spines, anal fin, and zebra-pattern of dark, narrow vertical bands on a pale background. As characteristic of members of the family, caudal fin with a moderately long dorsal lobe and moderately long ventral lobe, the latter shorter than the dorsal lobe, vertebral axis raised into caudal-fin lobe.: elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Zebra bullhead shark is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Oviparous, paired eggs are laid. Embryos feed solely on yolk . Distinct pairing with embrace . Lays auger type eggs (about 12-18cm, 4.7-7 inches long) among rocks & kelp, often with more than female using same oviposition site, with as many eggs found in a single nest; female lay 2 eggs at a time, from spring to late summer in Japan, 6-12 times during a single spawning season. Eggs hatch in 1 year. Hatch at 18 cm (7 inches), max length at 1.2m (3.9 ft.). During courtship, male grasps pectoral fin of female & wraps posterior part of body under her so single clasper can be inserted into her cloaca. In several mating bouts observed, copulation lasted as long as 15 minutes .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 200 m . Subtropical; 40°N - 20°S, 103°E - 155°E
🌿 Ecology
bottom invertebrates and small fishes (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
⚠️ Venom Profile
- immediate intense pain
- swelling
- erythema
- occasional nausea and weakness
Analgesia; wound care; tetanus prophylaxis; severe cases may require monitoring for systemic effects.
References: Compiled from Bhide (2018), Halstead et al. (1988) and family-specific envenomation literature
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 7 records indexed .
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