| Family: |
Dalatiidae (Sleeper sharks) |
| Max. size: |
22 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
bathypelagic; marine; depth range 200 - 2000 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Pacific: Japan to Australia (off northwestern Australia and New South Wales). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 1-1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0. The smalleye pygmy shark, Squaliolus aliae, is a very small dogfish (about 22cm) characterized by its small eye, with diameter about 46-70% of interorbital width, and with upper margin angular and chevron-shaped; upper lip with a pair of prominent lateral papillae (rarely indistinct) (Ref. 31367, 6871).Colour: dark brown to black, fin margins pale (Ref. 6871). Squaliolus are the only sharks with a fin spine on its first dorsal fin (spine sometimes concealed by skin) but not on its second dorsal fin; second dorsal fin long-based and low, about twice the length of the first dorsal fin base; first dorsal-fin base closer to pectoral fins than to pelvic fins; and caudal fin nearly symmetrical, with subterminal notch present (Ref. 247, 6871). |
| Biology: |
Possibly the smallest living shark (Ref. 6871). Found near continental and island land masses (Ref. 31367). Feeds mainly on cephalopods and small midwater bony fishes (Ref. 6871). Probably makes diurnal vertical migrations from within 200 m of the surface at night down to about 2,000 m during the day (Ref. 6871). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 6871). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 13 May 2015 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
