Heterodontus francisci, commonly known as the horn shark, is a small, bottom-dwelling species native to the warm coastal waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean. It is recognized for its distinctive head spines, blunt snout, and nocturnal behavior. Horn sharks have a preference for rocky reefs and kelp beds, where they feed on crustaceans and mollusks.

Heterodontus francisci, commonly known as the horn shark, is native to the eastern Pacific Ocean. Its geographical distribution extends from central California in the United States to the Gulf of California in Mexico. It is most commonly found around the coastal waters of Southern California and Baja California.

Horn sharks typically inhabit warm temperate to subtropical waters, usually at depths ranging from 2 to 11 meters, although they can be found as deep as 200 meters. They prefer rocky reefs, kelp forests, and sandy bottoms near rocky structures.

Heterodontus francisci occupies a niche as a benthic predator, primarily feeding on hard-shelled mollusks, crustaceans, and small fish. Its strong jaws and teeth are adapted for crushing shells, which is a distinctive feature of its ecological role in maintaining the balance of invertebrate populations in its habitat.