Largetooth cookiecutter shark (Isistius plutodus)

Scientific name: Isistius plutodus Garrick & Springer, 1964

Largetooth cookiecutter shark (Isistius plutodus)

The Largetooth cookiecutter shark (Isistius plutodus) is a marine fish of the family Dalatiidae. Native range: Western Atlantic, off Alabama, USA and the Gulf of Mexico; including Brazil. Northwest Pacific: off Okinawa, Japan.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0. The largetooth cookiecutter shark Isistius plutodus has no collar marking around throat, a small asymmetrical caudal fin with a short ventral lobe less than half the length of dorsal caudal margin, bigger mouth and gigantic lower teeth (proportionately the largest in any living shark) in 19 rows (upper teeth = 29 rows). Eyes set well forward on head, with extensive anterior binocular field. Pectoral fins rounded, pelvic fins smaller than dorsal fins. As with the other member of the genus Isistius, it has a characteristic small cigar-shaped body with two small close-set spineless dorsal fins far posterior on back, no anal fin, huge, triangular-cusped teeth without blades, short, bulbous snout and a unique suctorial lips.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Isistius plutodus
Family
Dalatiidae (Sleeper sharks)
Order
Squaliformes (Bramble, Sleeper and Dogfish sharks)
Class
Elasmobranchii (Sharks and Rays)
Maximum length
42.0
Depth range
814–6440 m (2671–21129 ft)
Environment
Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 814 - 6440 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Western Atlantic: off Alabama, USA and the Gulf of Mexico; including Brazil. Northwest Pacific: off Okinawa, Japan.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: of no interest
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec assumed to be

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated