Talk:Port Jackson shark

This article (in German) indicates that a probable PJ shark survived for an extended period of time out of the water. The living shark was found deposited on a pavement in Warrnambool and subsequently transported to the beach and released. Dysmorodrepanis (talk) 12:08, 23 April 2009 (UTC)

Left on newspaper's doorstep
Here is the article in English. Somebody left a Port Jackson shark on an Australian newspaper's doorstep, and nobody knows why.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/04/24/2551634.htm?section=justin

69.212.55.66 (talk) 19:49, 25 April 2009 (UTC)NotWalter

Relationship with humans
What does this mean?

''It also does not pose any danger to humans. No recorded attacks have occurred, but there is an existing danger from the organism.''

What is the existing danger? What organism is referred to? Does it pose any danger to humans, or not?

69.212.55.66 (talk) 19:52, 25 April 2009 (UTC)NotWalter

This species originates from South Africa?
The statement that this shark originated from the South African coast seems a bit dubious to me. I haven't been able to get online access to the relevant reference so I can't confirm the original information or evidence, but I'm wondering how this species came to Australian waters even if it evolved during the breakup of Pangea or Gondwana. Would anyone like to check the evidence, whatever it may be?

P.S. This article still contains instances of duplicated information that could be cleaned up, as well as the potential for improvement with judicious rewrites of the more clumsy parts. 110.22.7.108 (talk) —Preceding undated comment added 16:32, 13 February 2014 (UTC)

Teeth: not as unique as implied
The article gives the impression that the Port Jackson shark is unique in having differently shaped teeth in different parts of the mouth.

Key quotes: "Port Jackson sharks are similar to others of their genus [...] however, the species possesses characteristics that make them easily identifiable, such as their teeth"; and "The teeth of the Port Jackson shark are one of its most distinguishable feature. Unlike other sharks, its teeth are different in the front and back. The frontal teeth are small, sharp and pointed, while the latter is flat and blunt."

But differentiated teeth are a characteristic of bullhead sharks in general. That's what the genus name, Heterodontus, means: differentiated teeth. Maybe there are some bullhead shark species that don't have this feature, but it is mentioned in articles on the following species:
 * Horn shark ("The teeth at the front of the jaws are small and pointed, with a central cusp flanked by a pair of lateral cusplets; those at the sides of the jaws are much larger, elongated lengthwise, and molar-like")
 * Crested bullhead shark ("The teeth at the front of the jaws are small and pointed with a central cusp and two lateral cusplets, while those at the back of the jaws are wide and molar-like.")
 * Japanese bullhead shark ("the front teeth are small with a sharp central cusp flanked by a pair of lateral cusplets, while the back teeth are broad and rounded")

Clearly, there's work to be done in making it clear which anatomical features are characteristic of the species, and which are shared by other related sharks.

118.210.112.160 (talk) 06:42, 15 August 2014 (UTC)

'dont' (sic)
The greek root word for tooth is 'odont' not 'dont'. So 'heterodont" must be seen as heter(o)-odont" not 'hetero-dont'. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 103.224.131.9 (talk) 20:03, 17 January 2016 (UTC)

Appearance
Refering to the spines in front of each dorsal fin this section states: "These spines are rumored to be poisonous.", it should say: "These spines are rumored to be venomous.". Swampy 2001:8003:2069:1700:90D8:576D:9B2E:24C3 (talk) 11:07, 8 August 2017 (UTC)