Cookiecutter shark: Difference between revisions
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| status = LC |
| status = LC |
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| trend = unknown |
| trend = unknown |
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| image = Isistius brasiliensis (Cookiecutter shark).gif |
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| image_caption = Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling |
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| regnum = [[Animal]]ia |
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia |
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| subregnum = [[Deuterostomia]] |
| subregnum = [[Deuterostomia]] |
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Revision as of 17:27, 9 August 2006
| Cookiecutter shark | |
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| Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling | |
| Scientific classification | |
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| Species: | I. brasiliensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Isistius brasiliensis | |
The cookiecutter shark (Isistius brasiliensis), also known as the cigar shark or luminous shark, is a small rarely-seen dogfish shark.
Naming
It gets its name from its feeding style which often creates perfect "cookie-cutter" shaped plugs in the skin of large marine mammals and other large sharks.
Habitat and distribution
Worldwide in deep water. The cookiecutter shark has been found at depths of about 1,000 m (3,300 ft) below the surface of the ocean.
Anatomy and appearance
The cookiecutter sharks often glow green and grow up to 50 cm (20 in) long. The underside of the shark is bioluminescent, glowing a pale blue-green that matches the background light from the ocean's surface that serves as camouflage to creatures beneath it. However, a small non-luminescent patch appears black, deceiving the shark's prey, smaller predatory fish (like tuna), into thinking the shark is an even smaller fish. When the predatory fish tries to strike at the shark, the shark strikes back, scoring itself another meal [1]. This is the only known instance whereby a bioluminescent lure is created by the absence of luminescence (contrast with anglerfish).
Diet
It derived its name from its habit of removing small circular chunks of flesh from whales and large fish. It is hypothesized that the shark seizes its much larger prey with its jaws, then rotates its body to achieve a highly symmetrical cut. They are considered a parasite.
Reproduction
Cookiecutter sharks reproduce through aplacental viviparity in the same way as great white sharks. Little else is known about their reproduction.
Importance to humans
Cookie cutter sharks have been known to take bites out of submarine sonar domes, causing damage to the housing.[citation needed]
See also
References
- Template:IUCN2006 Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- "Isistius brasiliensis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. 23 January.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help) - Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Isistius brasiliensis". FishBase. September 2005 version.