Spined pygmy shark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spined pygmy shark |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
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| Order: |
Squaliformes
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| Family: |
Dalatiidae
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| Genus: |
Squaliolus
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| Species: |
S. laticaudus
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| Binomial name | |
| Squaliolus laticaudus |
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| Range of the Spined pygmy shark (In blue) | |
The spined pygmy shark (Squaliolus laticaudus) is one of the tiniest sharks on Earth. It is usually only about seven to eight inches long. That's about the size of a large pencil! These small sharks are dark gray or black on their backs. But their bellies can actually light up in the dark.
Spined pygmy sharks live very deep in the ocean. They can be found as far down as 6,500 feet (almost 2,000 meters). At night, they swim up closer to the surface, to about 650 feet (200 meters). They do this to find food. These sharks are completely harmless to people.
Contents
What the Spined Pygmy Shark Looks Like
The spined pygmy shark is known for its small size. It has a slender body. Its skin is rough, like sandpaper. This shark has a short, flat snout. It also has large eyes. These eyes help it see in the dark depths of the ocean.
Its color helps it blend in. The top of its body is dark gray or black. This makes it hard to see from above. Its belly is lighter. It also has special organs that glow. This glow helps it hide from predators below. It makes its outline disappear against the faint light from the surface. This is called counter-illumination.
Where the Spined Pygmy Shark Lives
These tiny sharks live in warm waters around the world. They are found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. They prefer deep waters far from the coast. You can find them in the open ocean.
They spend most of their time in the mesopelagic zone. This is also known as the "twilight zone" of the ocean. It is very deep and dark. But at night, they move up to shallower waters. This daily journey is called vertical migration.
What the Spined Pygmy Shark Eats
The spined pygmy shark is a predator. It hunts small sea creatures. Its diet mainly includes tiny fish. It also eats small squid. They use their glowing bellies to hunt. The glow helps them sneak up on their prey.
One of their favorite foods is Lanternfish. These fish also live in the deep sea. The shark's small, sharp teeth are perfect for catching these slippery meals.
Images for kids
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Lanternfish are preyed upon by the spined pygmy shark.
See also
In Spanish: Tollo pigmeo espinudo para niños
