The Embryology of Heterodontus japonicus 



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Text-figure 20. 

 A female specimen of Heterodontus galeatus Giinther captured off Sandon Bluff, New South Wales, Australia. 

 The inset figure shows the mouth opening, the nares, oro-nasal grooves, labial folds and some of the front teeth. 



After Whitley, 1940, Fig. 56, p. 73. 



The most outstanding peculiarity of this species is the unusual height of the supra' 

 orbital ridges. These ridges approach each other anteriorly, and diverge posteriorly; 

 they end abruptly a short distance behind the eye. Garman (1913) says that they end ab' 

 ruptly in young specimens, less so in old. As shown in a frontal view by Maclay and 

 Macleay (1879) the ridges lean outward (laterad) at an angle of about 45 degrees from the 

 median plane. Waite (1898 and 1899) and Whitley (1940) refer to this shark as 

 the "crested species". The name Crested Shark seems appropriate, though it might with 

 some justice be applied to any species of Heterodontus. The name "Crested Port Jackson 

 Shark", used by Whitley, seems inadmissable. 



Garman (1913) states that the form of H. galeatus is similar to that of H. francisci, but 

 the head is short and angular. The anterior gill-opening is more than twice as "wide" 

 (presumably meaning high or long) as the hindmost. The origin of the first dorsal fin is 

 above the hinder part of the pectoral base; the hind margin of the first dorsal is concave. 

 The base of the anal fin is about two-thirds of its length distant from the lower lobe 

 of the caudal. 



The color pattern is not well shown in Maclay and Macleay's lateral view (1879), 

 but is quite distinct in their dorsal view of the same specimen. Six broad transverse dark 

 stripes are said to be visible, but in the drawing the most posterior stripe is very faint. 

 Garman (1913) states that the general color is brown, with a transverse stripe of darker 

 across the orbits, widening upon the cheek; another band in front and one behind the 

 ventrals (pelvics); one through the second dorsal and one in front of the anal, less definite 

 than the anterior — making five instead of six as enumerated by Maclay and Macleay. The 



