Species in Disguise: A New Species of Hornshark from Northern Australia (Heterodontiformes: Heterodontidae)

A new species of hornshark is described from northwestern Australia based on six whole specimens and a single egg case. Heterodontus marshallae n. sp. was previously considered to be conspecific with H. zebra the Western Pacific. The differs in sequence its NADH2 gene, several morphological characters, case morphology key coloration features. Despite being similar between zebra, i.e., pale background 22 dark brown bands saddles, they differ consistently two aspects. Firstly, snout has semicircular bar, usually bifurcated for most length vs. pointed, triangular shaped marking zebra. Secondly, bar originating below posterior gill slits extending onto anterior pectoral fin, which absent endemic occurs deeper waters (125–229 m) than (0–143 m).