Cookie cutter shark (Isistius brasiliensis) fish species and Cookie cutter shark information

Scientific Name
Isistius brasiliensis

Common Name
Cookie cutter shark

Biology
Oceanic species (Ref. 247). Epi- to bathypelagic at 1-3500 m (Ref. 58302). Makes diurnal vertical migrations from below 1,000 m in the day to or near the surface at night (Ref. 6871, 58302). Travels long vertical distances in excess of 2,000 to 3,000 m on a diel cycle (Ref. 247). Feeds free-living deepwater prey such as large squid, gonostomatids, crustaceans but is also a facultative ectoparasite on larger pelagic animals such as wahoo, tuna, billfishes, and cetaceans (Ref. 247). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205), with 6-12 young per litter (Ref. 48844). The cookiecutter shark has specialized suctorial lips and a strongly modified pharynx that allow it to attach to the sides of it prey (Ref. 247). It then drives its saw-like lower dentition into the skin and flesh of its victim, twists about to cut out a conical plug of flesh, then pull free with the plug cradled

Classification

Classified By

Quoy & Gaimard, 1824

Class

Sharks and Rays (Elasmobranchii)

Order

Bramble, Sleeper and Dogfish sharks (Squaliformes)

Family

Sleeper sharks (Dalatiidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Atlantic

Distribution

Western Atlantic: Bahamas and southern Brazil. Eastern Atlantic: Cape Verde, Guinea to Sierra Leone, southern Angola and South Africa, including Ascension Island. Indo-Pacific: Mauritius to New Guinea, Lord Howe Island, and New Zealand (Ref. 26346), north to Japan and east to the Hawaiian Islands. Eastern Pacific: Easter Island (Ref. 9068) and the Galapagos.

Range

35°N - 40°S, 180°W - 180°E

Environment

Climate

Deep-water

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

1 m

Depth To - meters

3700 m

Zone

bathyalpelagic

Environment

Marine; bathypelagic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 1 - 3700 m (Ref. 55584)

Trophic Level

4.28 s.e. 0.50 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

42.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.6260 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (42 of 100)

Resilience

Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec = 6)

Threat To Humans

Harmless (Ref. 247)

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)

Cookie cutter shark (Isistius brasiliensis) fish species and information / pictures of Cookie cutter shark - Isistius brasiliensis

Cookie cutter shark (Isistius brasiliensis) fish species information

Classification

Distribution

Environment

Physical Size and Genetics

Human Uses and Population