---
title: "Crested Hornshark"
description: "Heterodontus galeatus — Fish. The crested bullhead shark (Heterodontus galeatus) is an uncommon species of bullhead shark, in the family Heterodontidae."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/crested-hornshark
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Crested Hornshark

> Heterodontus galeatus — Fish. The crested bullhead shark (Heterodontus galeatus) is an uncommon species of bullhead shark, in the family Heterodontidae.

- Scientific name: *Heterodontus galeatus*
- Category: `fish` (Fish)
- Habitats: `sea` (Sea & coast)
- iNaturalist observations: 753
- Wikidata: [Q1153211](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1153211)
- iNaturalist taxon: [102711](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/102711)

## Names

- en: Crested Hornshark
- de: Kamm-Stierkopfhai
- es: Tiburón cabeza de toro crestado
- fr: Requin Dormeur à Crête
- nl: Gekamde stierkophaai

## Countries with the most observations

AU (741)

## Summary

The crested bullhead shark (Heterodontus galeatus) is an uncommon species of bullhead shark, in the family Heterodontidae. It lives off the coast of eastern Australia from the coast to a depth of 93 m (305 ft). This shark can be distinguished from other members of its family by the large size of the ridges above its eyes and by its color pattern of large dark blotches. It typically attains a length of 1.2 m (3.9 ft).
Nocturnal and bottom-dwelling, the crested bullhead shark favors rocky reefs and vegetated areas, where it hunts for sea urchins and other small organisms. It is oviparous, with females producing spiral…

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crested_bullhead_shark

## Photo

![Crested Hornshark](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/crested-hornshark/medium.jpg)

Photo: Tricia Kaye · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/238007166

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/crested-hornshark?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).