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. Though seven species are 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 (tail-light shark)
• Euprotomicrus T. N. Gill, 1865
  • Euprotomicrus bispinatus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) (pygmy shark)
• 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)

See also

• List of fish families

References

• Dalatiidae in Fishesofaustralia.net.au