710 Bashford Dean Memorial Volume 



Regarding the same species, Barnhart (1932) writes that, while many of these sharks have 

 been taken in shallow water, there are several instances of large numbers being taken at 

 depths of over 500 feet by rock-cod fishermen. He further states that this species migrates 

 from shallow to deep water and from deep to shallow water at certain times of the year. 

 Whitley (1940) states that Heterodontus pMlipi is found in littoral waters to a depth 

 of 94 fathoms. 



According to Dean's notes, Heterodontus japonicus (called Nekosame by the natives 

 at Misaki) occurs in moderately shallow water, roughly between 3 and 20 fathoms. It 

 frequents places where the sea bottom is covered with rock fragments or sea-weeds. 



Concerning the habits of Heterodontus, other than feeding and spawning habits, our 

 information is very meager. Of H. phillipi, the Port Jackson Shark, Maclay and Macleay 

 (1879) write that the adults are very tenacious of life, but no data are given to support 

 this statement. For H. japonicus it is possible to quote directly from Dean's manuscript 

 as follows : 



Cestracion [Heterodontus japonicus] is deliberate in its movements: it swims slowly, 

 and changes its direction readily. Its great pectoral iins are inactive; in fact for a form so well 

 provided with large fins it seems to make surprisingly little use of them. Nor is it alert. 

 Indeed, the divers took by hand the greater number of specimens which were brought to me, 

 although it may well be that the fish, being about to deposit eggs, were less attentive to 

 externals than under usual conditions. The divers report that "Nekosame" stays close to the 

 bottom and spends its time "nosing" among rock fragments and seaweeds. When disturbed it 

 swims off near the bottom, and not over the heads of the divers as many fishes do. 



FOOD AND FEEDING HABITS 



Concerning the Port Jackson Shark, Heterodontus phillipi, Maclay and Macleay 

 (1879) wrote that its stomach is generally well-filled with fragments of shells, but these are 

 not so well comminuted as might be expected from the character of the teeth; and that 

 the "bowels" are often well charged with cestode worms. McCoy (1890) states that 

 this shark is common in Hobson Bay (Victoria), and that the stomach is filled with 

 fragments of shells. Some interesting information regarding the feeding habits of the 

 Port Jackson shark is furnished by Saville-Kent (1897, pp. 192-193), as follows : 



Oysters are the favorite food of this shark [Heterodontus phillipi], and in consequence 

 of its predilection for this bivalve, it has proved a formidable enemy to oyster growers in 

 both Tasmania and on the mainland seaboard. At Spring Bay, in the former island colony, 

 the writer found it even necessary to fence round certain of the Government Oyster Re- 

 serves with closely matted brushwood in order to protect the oyster stock laid down, from 

 this shark's depredations. In some localities, Cestracion [Heterodontus] feeds almost ex- 

 clusively upon Sea Urchins or Echini, the sharp spines of which have apparently no other 

 effect than the pleasant titillation of its palate. The proof of the extent to which this piquant 

 food is favored by this shark is afforded by the fact that the entire pavement of teeth of 

 captured specimens are not infrequently permanently stained a deep purple, through constant 

 indulgence in a dietary of the commoner purple urchin. 



