Dalatiidae
| Dalatiidae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Kitefin shark, Dalatias licha | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
| Order: | Squaliformes |
| Family: | Dalatiidae J. E. Gray, 1851 |
| Type species | |
| Squalus licha Bonnaterre, 1788 | |
| Diversity | |
| 7 genera, 10 species, See text. | |
Cookiecutter shark, Isistius brasiliensis
The Dalatiidae are a family of sharks in the order Squaliformes, commonly known as kitefin sharks (which also refers specifically to the species Dalatias licha). Members of this family are small, under 2 m (6.6 ft) long, and are found worldwide. They have cigar-shaped bodies with narrow heads and rounded snouts. Several species have specialized bioluminescent organs.[1] Though there are seven species in this family, five of them are monotypic.
Genera and species
- Dalatias Rafinesque, 1810
- Dalatias licha (Bonnaterre, 1788) (Kitefin shark)
- Euprotomicroides Hulley and M. J. Penrith, 1966
- Euprotomicroides zantedeschia Hulley and M. J. Penrith, 1966 (Taillight shark)
- Euprotomicrus T. N. Gill, 1865
- Heteroscymnoides Fowler, 1934
- Heteroscymnoides marleyi Fowler, 1934 (Longnose pygmy shark)
- Isistius T. N. Gill, 1865
- Isistius brasiliensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) (Cookiecutter shark)
- Isistius plutodus Garrick & S. Springer, 1964 (Largetooth cookiecutter shark)
- Mollisquama Dolganov, 1984
- Mollisquama parini Dolganov, 1984 (Pocket shark)
- Squaliolus H. M. Smith and Radcliffe, 1912
- Squaliolus aliae Teng, 1959 (Smalleye pygmy shark)
- Squaliolus laticaudus H. M. Smith and Radcliffe, 1912 (Spined pygmy shark)