CHONDRICHTHYES: SQUALIFORMES: SQUALIDAE: Euprotomicrus

Euprotomicrus bispinatus (Quoy and Gaimard, 1824)

Pygmy shark

Photo & text by Dr. Robert Sprackland

Range: So far found around smaller islands in waters worldwide, excepting cold seas.

Diagnosis: A tiny shark with a small anterior and spineless dorsal fin.

Description: The world's smallest shark at a maximum total length of 27 cm / 9.25 inches. The head is large and blunt with huge eyes (green in life). The dorsal and pelvic fins are small, the pectoral fins broad, nearly as high as the body. Gill slits are about equal in size, not as high as the eye, very near pectoral fins.

Natural History: Pygmy sharks live in deep waters by day, but forage near the surface at night. These migrations may vertically span 1500+ m /  4940 feet per day. They feed on small invertebrates, including smaller fishes, squid, krill and shrimp.

Reproduction: Produces up to eight live young.

Taxonomy & Relationships: This is the only species in its genus. Other similar dwarf sharks have a spine in front of both dorsal fins.

Variation: Unknown.

Additional Comments:

Type Specimen: MNHN 1216, Mauritius, Indian Ocean.

Literature: Click on book to order.

Bigelow, H., and Wm. Schroeder. 1957. A study of the sharks of the suborder Squaloidea. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 117(1): 1-150.

Compagno, Leonard. 1984. FAO Species Catalogue, Vol. 4, Part 1. Sharks of the World. U.N. Development Programme, Rome. ISBN: 92-5-101384-5.

Garman, Samuel. 1997. The Plagiostomia (sharks, skates and rays). Benthic Press, L.A. ISBN: 0-9657121-0-9.

Last, Peter, and J. Stevens. 1994. Sharks and Rays of Australia. CSIRO. ISBN: 0-643-05143-0.

Sprackland, Robert. 1999. Key to the Sharks and Rays of the World. Young Forest Company, Belmont, CA.