| Family: |
Dalatiidae (Sleeper sharks) |
| Max. size: |
30.5 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
bathypelagic; marine; depth range 0 - 1800 m |
| Distribution: |
Circumglobal: In subtropical to temperate waters. Southeast Atlantic: near Ascension Island, east of Fernando de Noronha Island, and west of Cape of Good Hope, South Africa. Indian Ocean: Madagascar to Western Australia. North Pacific: Midway Islands, Hawaiian Islands to off California, USA. South Pacific: between New Zealand, Phoenix Island and southern Chile. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0. Small dogfish with a cigar-shaped body, a distinct dark collar marking around the gill region, a conical snout, large round eyes (Ref. 5578), fleshy lips, enlarged triangular lower teeth, equal-sized gill slits (Ref. 5578), very small dorsal fins, and a paddle-shaped caudal fin with nearly symmetrical upper and lower lobes (Ref. 6871). Black with white fin edges; belly luminous (Ref. 247). |
| Biology: |
Epi-, meso-, and perhaps bathypelagic at 1->400 m (Ref. 58302). Occurs at or near the surface at night, descending to below 400 m (possibly as deep as 1,800 m) during the day (Ref. 31367). Feeds on squid, bony fishes, and crustaceans (Ref. 5578). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205), with 8 young per litter, size at birth between 6 and 10 cm (Ref. 247). Caught with dip-nets and buckets at night (Ref. 6577). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 13 May 2015 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
| Country info: |
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