Galapagos Bullhead Shark (Heterodontus quoyi) — Fernandina Island

Marine Life · Galápagos, Ecuador

The Galapagos Bullhead Shark (Heterodontus quoyi) is one of the more elusive animals you can encounter in the Galápagos. I filmed this one at Douglas Cape, off the western coast of Fernandina Island — an area known for deep-water upwellings that bring cold, nutrient-rich currents across the reef.

Despite being described by science as far back as 1840, the Galapagos Bullhead Shark remains one of the least studied shark species in the archipelago.

A Bottom Dweller in Cold Water

Bullhead sharks are not built like the open-water species most people picture when they hear “shark.” They’re small, slow, and spend most of their time resting motionless on the bottom among rocky ledges and sand flats. Their large pectoral fins let them crawl along the seafloor rather than swim long distances. They’re nocturnal — foraging at night for crustaceans and small invertebrates, then tucking themselves into crevices during the day.

The Galapagos Bullhead Shark is found only in the Galápagos Islands and along the coast of Peru. Researchers are still working to determine whether the Peruvian population is actually a separate species (Heterodontus peruanus). If it is, that would make the Galapagos Bullhead the only endemic shark species in the archipelago.

Within the Galápagos, they tend to favor the colder western islands — Fernandina and the west side of Isabela — where upwellings keep invertebrate populations healthy and water temperatures lower than elsewhere in the chain. Fernandina sits right in that zone, which is probably why we found this one at Douglas Cape.

Species Identification

Common Name

Galapagos Bullhead Shark / Galapagos Horn Shark

Scientific Name

Heterodontus quoyi (Fréminville, 1840)

Family

Heterodontidae (Bullhead Sharks)

Max Length

~107 cm (~3.5 ft)

Range

Galápagos Islands and coastal Peru (eastern Pacific)

Depth

3–40 m

Diet

Crustaceans, shellfish, and small invertebrates

Behavior

Nocturnal; rests motionless on the bottom during the day

Conservation

IUCN: Least Concern (formerly Data Deficient)

Dive Site

Douglas Cape, Fernandina Island, Galápagos