Cookie Cutter Shark

Threat Level: low

The Cookie Cutter Shark is also known as Cigar Shark
or luminous shark.

COOKIE CUTTER SHARK

Scientific Name.... Isistius Brasiliensis
Family Name...... Cookie-cutter Shark

General Information: The cookiecutter shark is a small brown shark with a short snout. It has a cigar-like appearance is enhanced by its small dorsal fins being displaced to the rear of its body and by the lack of an anal fin. It also has a black collar around the back of its head. There are two known species of cookie cutter sharks: the cookie cutter shark ( isistius brasiliensis ) and the largetooth cookie cutter shark ( Isistius plutodus ) both belong to a family of deep water squaloid. They have large eyes with green pupils.

Teeth: They have specialized suctorial jaws and lips, and razor sharp, saw-like lower teeth. The upper jaw teeth are much smaller and finer, but still very sharp. They have thick fleshy lips, large tongue and strong throat muscles.

Color: The cookie cutter shark is a dark brown or dark tan color on top. The belly is light brown with a luminescent patch.

Feeding Habits: The cookiecutter shark's prey on large marlins, tunas, seals, whales and dolphins. The shark forms a suction cap with its lips on the skin of its prey, then bites and swivels around to cut out an oval-shaped plug of tissue, just like a cookie cutter in pastry. Scientists believe that it uses its bioluminescent light organs, which glow in the dark, to lure fast-swimming prey close, so that they can ambush them.

Social Behaviour: Cookiecutter sharks are a solitary species, coming together only to mate.

Habitat | Migration | Distribution: They are found throughout the tropical oceans of the world. Normally inhabits depths as great as 11,500 feet.

Reproduction: It is ovoviviparous, but nothing is known about the size of its litters.