Species: Heterodontus quoyi, Galapagos bullhead shark

Heterodontus quoyi (Fréminville, 1840)

Galapagos bullhead shark

A slender-bodied shark with a large squarish pig-lke snout; low bony ridge above each eye ends gradually at rear; nostrils without barbels, with grooves around nostrils and connected to the mouth; anterior nasal flaps elongate posteriorly; small mouth; front teeth with 3 similar sized points, enlarged molariform teeth posteriorly; both dorsal fins with a sharp spine; origin of first dorsal fin behind pectoral fin base, over inner fin margin.

Grey or light brown with large (> ½ eye diameter) blackish leopard-like spotting; no pale bar between eyes; dark spots or blotches under eye; a series of diffuse dark grey bars may be present across back and sides.

Size: reaches 107 cm.

Habitat: often seen resting on sand adjacent to rocky reefs.

Depth: 3-40 m.

The Galapagos Islands and Colombia to Peru.