Euprotomicrus bispinatus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)
Pygmy shark
Euprotomicrus bispinatus
photo by FAO

 Family:  Dalatiidae (Sleeper sharks)
 Max. size:  30.5 cm TL (male/unsexed)
 Environment:  bathypelagic; 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:   (Ref. 96402)
 Threat to humans:  harmless
 Country info:   
 

 Entered by: Carpenter, Kent E. - 15.06.92
 Modified by: Valdestamon, Roxanne Rei - 25.06.14
 Checked by: Garilao, Cristina V. - 20.11.95

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