Smalltooth sand tiger
📖 Overview
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 (S.Bessudo, pers.comm. 06/09). 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.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. A shark with a short, pointed snout, small eyes, protruding spike-like teeth, and small, equal-sized dorsal and anal fins; first dorsal closer to pectoral than to pelvic fins . Grey above, paler below ; may have red spots on sides .: fusiform / normal.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Smalltooth sand tiger is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Smalltooth sand tiger is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Exhibit ovoviparity (aplacental viviparity), with embryos feeding on other ova produced by the mother (oophagy) after the yolk sac is absorbed . Two young born at 105 cm or larger . Distinct pairing with embrace .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; benthopelagic; depth range 10 - 2000 m , usually 13 - 880 m . Deep-water; 50°N - 49°S, 180°W - 180°E West Pacific: off South Africa and Maldives, Madagascar, southern Japan, Australia, and New Zealand (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
small bony fishes, squids, and crustaceans (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Smalltooth sand tiger is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 18.4 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 340 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Smalltooth sand tiger has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Blue nurse shark · Bumpytail Ragged-tooth · Deepwater Nurse Shark · Fierce odontaspis · Fierce shark · Herbst's Nurse Shark · Herbsts (or Herbst’s) nurse shark · Herbsts Nurse Shark · Sand Shark · Small-tooth Sand Tiger Shark · Smalltooth Sand Tiger Shark · Smalltooth sand tiger · bumpytail ragged-tooth shark · bumpytail raggedtooth · ragged-tooth · ragged-tooth shark · sand tiger shark · tiger ragged-tooth · Smalltooth Sandtiger |
| 🌍AFR | Knopstert-skeurtandhaai |
| 🇸🇦Arabic | Kalb |
| 🏳️Catalan | Solraig llis |
| 🌍CES | žralok ostrozubý |
| 🇩🇪German | Kleinzahn-Sandtigerhai · Schildzahnhai |
| 🌍DIV | މީދާ މިޔަރު |
| 🌍ELL | Αγριοκαρχαρίας · Σκυλόψαρο |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | mustahietahai |
| 🇫🇷French | Odontaspide féroce · Requin · Requin Feroce · Squale féroce |
| 🌍GLG | Tiburón de area |
| 🌍HEB | כריש-שן אימתני |
| 🇭🇺Hungarian | Kisfogú homoki tigriscápa |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Cagnaccio · Cagnaccio comune · cagnassown de foundo · cagnia · can da denti · carcaria feroce · lamia · odontaspe feroce · pisci cani · smidiru · squalo feroce · triglochide feroce |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Owanizame · オオワニザメ |
| 🌍LIT | aštriadantis smėlryklis |
| 🌍MLT | Kelb salvagg · Silfjun |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | kleintandzandtijgerhaai |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Rekin piaskowy · rekin tygrysi |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Tubarão-areia · Tubarão-mangona-de-olhos-grandes |
| 🇷🇺Russian | острозубая песчаная акула |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Salroig · Solraig · Solrayo · Surraig · Tiburón arenero tigre de dientes pequeños · Tiburón solrayo · tiburón dientes de perro |
| 🌍SQI | Peshkagen i eger · Peshkaqen i eger · peshkaqeni i egër |
| 🌍TUR | pamuk baligi · pamuk balığı |
| 🌍UKR | Акула піщана дрібнозуба |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 兇猛砂錐齒鯊 · 凶猛砂錐齒鯊 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carcharias ferox | Risso | 1810 | Synonym |
| Odontapsis herbsti | Whitley | 1950 | Synonym |
| Odontaspis herbsti | Whitley | 1950 | Synonym |
| Squalus ferox | Risso | 1810 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 2 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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