The horned shark is one of the most mysterious and understudied shark species. Its horns, which look like ears, cause fear and anxiety in people. But how dangerous is this shark and what does it even look like?
Appearance of the horned shark
The horned shark gets its name from the horns that are on its head. These horns are not a weapon like other shark species, but serve to sense the environment and help it navigate in space.
The horned shark reaches a length of up to 3 meters and weighs about 230 kg. It has a dark gray body color with a white spot on its belly. It has large eyes and a wide mouth with sharp teeth.
Lifestyle of the horned shark
Horned shark lives in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Pacific Ocean, at depths of 100 to 300 meters. It is a nocturnal predator and feeds on fish, squid and crabs.
Horned shark does not pose a threat to humans because it is not aggressive and avoids contact with him. The only case of attack on humans was recorded in 1984 when the horned shark attacked a diver who was at a depth of more than 100 meters. However, this case is an exception to the rule rather than a general trend.
Horned shark research
The horned shark is one of the most understudied shark species. Its rarity and life at great depths make it a difficult and costly process to study.
However, recent studies have shown that the horned shark is one of the longest-living shark species. It can live up to 135 years, making it one of the longest-living spiny animals on the planet.
The horned shark has also been found to be one of the slowest growing shark species. It does not reach sexual maturity until it is 17 years old and has a very low reproductive capacity.
Protecting the horned shark
The horned shark is an endangered species because of the crab fishery. Its meat is considered a delicacy and its horns are used in Chinese medicine.
Although the horned shark is not a dangerous species for humans, its numbers are decreasing due to human activities. Therefore, it is necessary to take measures to protect this unique species of shark.
Expert Opinion
“The horned shark is one of the most mysterious and understudied shark species. Its unique horns cause fear and anxiety in people, but in fact this shark does not pose a threat to humans. We need to study this species more to protect it from extinction,” says Michael Hines, director of the Shark Research Center.
