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The shark species "Spined pygmy shark"

Photo
Unfortunately, there is not yet a photo of this shark in the database
Unfortunately, there is not yet a photo of this shark in the database
Range Map
North America South America Africa Australia Europe Asia Coming soon Coming soon
North America South America Africa Australia Europe Asia Coming soon Coming soon
Spined pygmy shark

Rough area of distribution

Taxonomy
Kingdom:
Animals (Animalia)
Phylum:
Vertebrates (Chordata)
Class:
Cartilagenous fishes (Chondrichthyes)
Order:
Dogfish sharks (Squaliformes)
Family:
Dogfish sharks (Squalidae)
Genus:
Squaliolus
Names
Scientific:
Squaliolus laticaudus
English:
Spined pygmy shark
German:
Zwerghai
French:
Squale nain
Spanish:
Tollo pigmeo espinudo
Appearance
Very small, spindle shaped body. Pointed, long and bulbously shaped snout. The only known shark with a spine on its first dorsal fin but not on the second one. First dorsal fin with its origin opposite to the inner margins or rear tips of pectoral fins. No anal fin.
Coloration
Dark (black) with conspicuously light-margined fins.
Distribution
Oceanic and nearly circumtropical. Western Atlantic: Bermuda, southern Brazil, northern Argentina. Eastern Atlantic: France and Madeira. Indian Ocean: Somalia. Western Pacific: Japan, Taiwan, Philippines.
Biology
This species lives over the continental slopes, between 200 m and 500 m depth. It is known to vertically migrate. Spined pygmy sharks have photophores that produces bioluminescent light on the undersides of their bodies. ( A few are also located on their backs. These photophores are also used for "counter shading", making them less visible against the ligher background (i.e.the surface and surface light) from below and therefore more protected from predators.
Diet
Cephalopods, lanternfishes and other fishes of deeper water.
Size
Probably the smallest shark of all, maximum size about 25 cm.
Reproduction
Aplacental viviparous (ovoviviparous). Males reach sexual maturity at about 15 cm, females at about 17 cm to 20 cm.
Similar Species
None.
Vulnerability
Category: Least Concern (LC)
Criteria: -
Last evaluated: 2020
Trend: Stable




© IUCN Red List 2024. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Version 2024-2.

Danger to Humans
Harmless.

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