Kitefin shark
📖 Overview
Found on outer continental and insular shelves and slopes . Mainly found on or near the bottom but readily occurs well off the substrate . Often pelagic . Found singly or in small schools . Feeds mainly on deepwater bony fish, but also skates, other sharks (etmopterids in Ref. 123656), cephalopods and crustaceans . This bioluminescent shark (currently the largest luminous vertebrate) emit light ventrally to counterilluminate which might be used to illuminate the ocean floor while searching/hunting for prey; or to stealthily approach prey, using counterillumination camouflage, before striking fast when it is close enough . Ovoviviparous , with 10-20 young born at 30-42 cm . Used for its squalene liver oil, leather and meat, as well as for fishmeal .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. Moderately sized, short- and blunt-snouted shark with two almost equal-sized dorsal fins; papillose thick lips; small slender-cusped upper teeth and very large lower teeth with erect triangular serrated cusps and distal blades; first dorsal fin on back with its origin behind the pectoral rear tips and its base closer to the pectoral base than the pelvic fins; and caudal fin with the ventral lobe not expanded . Dark grey-brown to black; trailing edges of fins translucent .: elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Kitefin shark is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Kitefin shark is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Ovoviviparous . 10-20 young born at 30-42 cm ; 10-16 young born at 30 cm TL. Distinct pairing with embrace .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 37 - 1800 m , usually 300 - 600 m . Deep-water; 72°N - 56°S, 98°W - 153°W Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean.
🌿 Ecology
deepwater bony fish, but also skates, other sharks (etmopterids in Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Black Shark · Darkie Charlie · Kitefin shark · Kitefin shark, Darkie Charlie · Seal Shark · Turtle-head Shark · kitfin shark |
| 🇸🇦Arabic | Kalb |
| 🏳️Catalan | Negret xato |
| 🌍CES | světloun Bonnaterrův |
| 🌍CYM | Morgwn Gweflog · morgi gweflog |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Chokoladehaj |
| 🇩🇪German | Schokoladenhai |
| 🌍DIV | ކަށިނެތް މިޔަރު |
| 🌍ELL | Σκυλόψαρο · Σκυμνοσκυλόψαρο |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | leijahai |
| 🇫🇷French | Requin liche · Squale liche |
| 🌍HEB | קמוט-שפה |
| 🇭🇷Croatian | Drkovna |
| 🇭🇺Hungarian | Sárkányúszós tüskéscápa |
| 🌍ISL | Skarðaháfur |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Squalo zigrino · Zigrino |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Yoroizame · ヨロイザメ |
| 🌍LIT | šokoladinis dygliaryklis |
| 🌍MLT | Murruna sewda |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | Valse doornhaai · Zwarte haai · chocoladehaai |
| 🌍NNO | Spansk håkjerring |
| 🌍NOB | Spansk håkjerring |
| 🇳🇴Norwegian | Spansk håkjerring |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Liksa |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Gata · gata-lixa · tubarao-lixa-negro |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Американская пряморотая акула · Далатия · Черная (шелковая, пряморотая) акула · Чёрная акула |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Carocho · Lija · Lija negra · negra · tiburón carocho |
| 🌍SQI | Peshkagen |
| 🌍SRP | Drkovina · Pas mrkalj |
| 🌍TUR | kut burunlu camgoz · kut burunlu kopekbaligi · küt burunlu köpekbalığı |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 沙魚 · 鎧鯊 · 黑沙 · 黑鮫 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centrina broussonetii | Billberg | 1833 | Synonym |
| Dalatias lica | Bonnaterre | 1788 | Synonym |
| Dalatias lichia | Bonnaterre | 1788 | Synonym |
| Dalatias sparophagus | Rafinesque | 1810 | Heterotypic |
| Dalatias tachiensis | Shen & Ting | 1972 | Synonym |
| Pseudoscymnus boshuensis | Herre | 1935 | Synonym |
| Scymnorhinus brevipinnis | Smith | 1936 | Synonym |
| Scymnorhinus licha | Bonnaterre | 1788 | Synonym |
| Scymnorhinus lichi | Bonaparte | 1846 | Synonym |
| Scymnorhinus lichia | Bonaparte | 1846 | Synonym |
| Scymnorhinus phillippsi | Whitley | 1931 | Synonym |
| Scymnus aquitanensis | de la Pylaie | 1835 | Heterotypic |
| Scymnus vulgaris | Cloquet | 1822 | Synonym |
| Squalus americanus | Gmelin | 1789 | Synonym |
| Squalus licha | Bonnaterre | 1788 | Synonym |
| Squalus nicaeensis | Risso | 1810 | Synonym |
| Squalus scymnus | Voigt | 1832 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 702 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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