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Horn Shark
(Heterodontus francisci)
Farther offshore, and deep into the kelp beds, lives the horn shark. It has a short, blunt head, and its eyes are on high ridges. It is small (less than four feet) and is gray or brown with dark spots covering its body.
The horn shark has small teeth in the front of its jaw and large crushing molars along the sides. It's most active at night and feeds on benthic (bottom-dwelling) invertebrates, such as sea urchins, crabs, worms, and anemones.
The horn shark is oviparous which means it lays eggs. The egg cases are curiously shaped, with a spiral like a screw, and about 4 3/4 inches long. Each case contains one pup (baby shark), and takes between six and nine months to hatch.
The horn shark is not considered dangerous to people, but the spines can hurt if the shark is handled.
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