Kitefin shark (Dalatias licha) fish species and Kitefin shark information

Scientific Name
Dalatias licha

Common Name
Kitefin shark

Biology
Found on outer continental and insular shelves and slopes (Ref. 247). Mainly found on or near the bottom but readily occurs well off the substrate (Ref. 247, 58302). Often pelagic (Ref. 58302). Found singly or in small schools (Ref. 6871). Feeds mainly on deepwater bony fish, but also skates, other sharks, cephalopods and crustaceans (Ref. 5578). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205), with 10-20 young born at 30-42 cm (Ref. 26346). Used for its squalene liver oil, leather and meat, as well as for fishmeal (Ref. 6871).

Classification

Classified By

Bonnaterre, 1788

Class

Sharks and Rays (Elasmobranchii)

Order

Bramble, Sleeper and Dogfish sharks (Squaliformes)

Family

Sleeper sharks (Dalatiidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Atlantic

Distribution

Western Atlantic: Georges Bank and northern Gulf of Mexico. Eastern Atlantic: Iceland (Ref. 12462), Scotland, and Irish Atlantic slope to Morocco, western Mediterranean, Madeira to Cameroon. Western Indian Ocean: Mozambique and South Africa. Western Pacific: Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. Central Pacific: Hawaii.

Range

65°N - 47°S, 180°W - 180°E

Environment

Climate

Deep-water

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

37 m

Depth To - meters

1800 m

Zone

bathydemersal

Environment

Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 37 - 1800 m (Ref. 247), usually 200 - 1800 m (Ref. 247)

Trophic Level

4.15 s.e. 0.66 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

182 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 1.0010 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial

Vulnerability

Very high vulnerability (81 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec=10-20)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Near Threatened (NT)

Kitefin shark (Dalatias licha) fish species and information / pictures of Kitefin shark - Dalatias licha

Kitefin shark (Dalatias licha) fish species information

Classification

Distribution

Environment

Physical Size and Genetics

Human Uses and Population