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Smalltooth sand tiger (Odontaspis ferox) fish species and information / pictures of Smalltooth sand tiger - Odontaspis ferox

Smalltooth sand tiger (Odontaspis ferox) fish species information

Scientific Name
Odontaspis ferox

Common Name
Smalltooth sand tiger

Biology
Found on or near the bottom of the continental and insular shelves and upper slopes ; sometimes in shallow water. Tagging showed the species dives up to 2,000 m at Malpelo Island, Colombia. Feeds on small bony fishes, squids, and crustaceans. Uses its long body cavity and large, oily liver to regulate buoyancy. Ovoviviparous, embryos feeding on yolk sac and other ova produced by the mother. Not implicated in attacks on people. Flesh utilized for human consumption and liver for its high squalene content ; utilization of fins, jaws and cartilage.

Classification

Classified By
Risso, 1810
Class
Sharks and Rays (Elasmobranchii)
Order
Mackerel sharks (Lamniformes)
Family
Sand tigers (Odontaspididae)

Distribution

Region
Eastern Atlantic
Distribution
Eastern Atlantic: Gulf of Gascony, Madeira, Morocco, Mediterranean; also Cape Verde. Western Atlantic: Yucatan Shelf, Mexico , Brazil. Indo-West Pacific: off South Africa and Maldives, Madagascar, southern Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. Expected to occur in the Western Central Pacific. Central Pacific: off Hawaii. Eastern Pacific: off southern California, USA and Baja California, Mexico.
Range
50°N - 49°S, 180°W - 180°E

Environment

Climate
Deep-water
Water Temperature From
Unknown °C
Water Temperature To
Unknown °C
Depth From - meters
10 m
Depth To - meters
2000 m
Zone
benthopelagic
Environment
Marine; benthopelagic; depth range 10 - 2000 m
Trophic Level
4.16 s.e. 0.56 Based on food items.
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
410 cm
Common Length
Unknown cm
Phylogenetic Diversity Index
PD50 = 0.8125 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses
Fisheries: commercial
Vulnerability
High to very high vulnerability (72 of 100)
Resilience
Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec assumed to be
Threat To Humans
Harmless (Ref. 247)
IUCN Red List Status
Vulnerable (VU)(A2bd+4bd)