Common Name: Crested Horn Shark

Distribution: Common in the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Only known from the east coast of Australia, from northern New South Wales south to Montague Island.

Ecological Notes: Frequents coastal reefs and islands, occasionally in rocky estuaries, to at least 93 m but often seen in shallow waters. Feeds on benthic invertebrates, primarily sea urchins but also crustaceans and molluscs and small fish.

Additional Notes: Body light to dark brown with broad blackish bands and with high crests above the eyes. Commonly mistaken for Port Jackson Shark, H. portusjacksoni, which has a much more distinct harness like pattern. Oviparous, with paired unusual corkscrew shaped egg cases laid, sometimes with tendrils up to 2 m long. Young approximately 22 cm at hatching. Mature adult in top photograph about 1.3 m long. Second photograph shows distinct eyebrow crest, third photograph shows egg cases entangled in black coral tree. Grows to 1.5 m. 

References: Graham J. Edgar. Australian Marine Life, 2nd Edition, 2008. Reed New Holland Publishers. pp.449-50.

FishBase. Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2018. World Wide Web electronic publication. https://fishbase.ca/summary/Heterodontus-galeatus.html. Accessed 30/09/2018.