Species: Isistius brasiliensis, Cookiecutter Shark

Isistius brasiliensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)

Cookiecutter Shark

Body cigar-shaped; head narrow and conical; short, bulbous snout; spiracles present, large, behind eye; no nictitating eyelids; mouth small; lips suctorial, not fringed; teeth in upper and lower jaws different, upper - narrow, needle-like, no cusplets, 31-37 rows, lower - large triangular, not serrated, 25-31 rows; 5 gill slits, all before pectoral; both dorsal fins small, ~equal height, close together (space between them ~twice base of 1st dorsal), near tail fin, space between second dorsal and tail fin base > twice base of second dorsal; no anal fin; pectoral fins angular; pelvic fins larger than dorsal fins; no lateral ridges between pectoral and pelvic fins; no pits on upper tail base; keel on tail base; tail fin large, paddle shaped, nearly symmetrical, lower lobe 2/3 length of top lobe.

Dark brown on top paler below with prominent dark collar around head at level of gill slits; dorsal an pelvic fins with white rear edges; tail fin with dark lobe tips, white rear edge.

Size to 50 cm.

Habitat: Oceanic.

Depth: 0-3700 m.

Scattered locations in the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific in tropical and temperate waters; the Bahamas to Brazil.