Spined pygmy shark
📖 Overview
An oceanic, wide-ranging, tropical pelagic species occurring near continental and insular land masses, sometimes over the shelves, but usually over the slopes . Displays vertical migrations on a diel cycle, seen at the bottom during the day and travels to 200 m at night . Feeds on deepwater squid, lanternfish, gonostomatids and idiacanthids, and probably follows its prey on their diel migrations . Ovoviviparous . Has well-developed photophores densely covering the ventral part of the body and sparsely seen on the sides and hardly developed on the dorsal surface .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Anal spines: 0. The spined pygmy shark Squaliolus laticaudus is a very small dogfish (about 25cm) with a large eye (diameter 73-86% of interorbital width), upper margin nearly straight; upper lip without papillae . Color: dark with conspicuously light-margined fins . Edge of fins with bright border . S. laticaudus is the type species of the genus which has the following distinctive features: fin spine on its first dorsal fin but not on its second dorsal fin; second dorsal fin long-based and low, about twice the length of first dorsal fin base; first dorsal-fin base closer to pectoral fins than to pelvic fins; and caudal fin nearly symmetrical, paddle-shaped, with subterminal notch present; low lateral keels on caudal peduncle . Body cigar-shaped; snout very long, bulbously conical but slightly pointed; mouth ventral; lips thin; teeth strongly different in both jaws, uppers small, narrow and erect cusps, lowers larger, blade-like and semi erect. Tooth rows 22-23/16-21. .: elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Spined pygmy shark is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Probably ovoviviparous. Twelve mature eggs have been found in a single ovary of a mature female but this does not imply that large litters are produced . Distinct pairing with embrace .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; bathypelagic; oceanodromous ; depth range 200 - 1200 m . Deep-water; 48°N - 40°S, 180°W - 180°E Indian Ocean: off Somalia.
🌿 Ecology
deepwater squid, lanternfish, gonostomatids and idiacanthids, and probably follows its prey on their
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 13 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
No observations yet - be the first to log one!
View all observations for Spined pygmy shark ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.
Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.