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Cookiecutter sharks are named for their unique feeding behavior. They have sharp, serrated teeth that they use to carve out circular chunks of flesh from larger animals, such as whales, dolphins, and other sharks. These bites resemble cookie cutters, hence the name. Despite their small size (only about 20 inches long), cookiecutter sharks are known for their powerful jaws and their ability to latch onto much larger prey. They are found in deep waters around the world and are considered a minor threat to humans.
Wild Animals
Cookiecutter sharks, also known as “cigar sharks,” have a maximum length of only 20 inches (50 centimeters). See more shark pictures.
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Compared to other shark species like great whites and tiger sharks, the cookiecutter shark appears much smaller in size and looks almost harmless with its brown, slender profile. Due to its brown body, it is sometimes referred to as a “cigar fish.” These small sharks reside in the deep sea, approximately 11,500 feet (3,500 meters) below the surface, but at night, they migrate towards the surface to find their meals. These sharks are mainly found in tropical and subtropical waters and have been spotted in various oceans, including the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, as well as the Caribbean Sea and Amazon River [source: ReefQuest Centre for Shark Research].
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Despite its small size, the cookiecutter shark’s bite is quite powerful. The shark’s mouth, surrounded by relatively large, flabby lips, contains a formidable set of teeth. The top has 30 to 37 teeth, which stretch across like a set of dentures, and the bottom has 25 to 31 larger teeth. However, equipped with weak fins and a small body, cookiecutter sharks are not successful predators. Instead, they are the only parasitic fish in the shark family that feed off hunks of flesh ripped out of larger fish [source: Parker]. The bites don’t kill their hosts, but are enough to satisfy the small sharks’ appetites.
Cookiecutter sharks get their name from the almost perfectly round, cookie-shaped wound they leave on their victims. These sharks are considered the Zorro of the sea, slashing their signature marks onto foes, including marlin, dolphin, tuna, stingrays, seals, and other sharks [source: Florida Museum of Natural History]. Some researchers even suspect that cookiecutter sharks have taken bites out of nearly every tropical sea dweller [source: ReefQuest Centre for Shark Research].
How Do Cookiecutter Sharks Hunt?
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Cookiecutter sharks are one of many bioluminescent fish species in the sea. Bioluminescence means their bodies glow. Among sharks, cookiecutters glow the brightest [source: Parker]. Their scientific name, Isistius brasiliensis, comes from the Greek goddess Isis, the goddess of light [source: ReefQuest Centre for Shark Research].
Bioluminescence occurs in cookiecutter sharks because of the presence of photopore glands, particularly concentrated on their lower belly. These glands produce an enzyme called luciferose that converts chemical energy to light energy, causing the glow. The transparent cells surrounding the glands also allow the light to shine through the cookiecutter shark’s skin [source: Parker].
The cookiecutter shark is able to camouflage itself from predators by using counterillumination, which makes the luminous part of its body virtually invisible from below. However, the wide stripe around its neck does not glow, which allows other fish to distinguish it from the rest of its body. This non-glowing part is actually the cookiecutter shark’s trump card, as it looks like the shark’s body only consists of that small portion around its head and neck. By luring predator fish to come to it, the cookiecutter then has more power to bite them than if it tried to use its feeble strength to approach. When the predator goes in for the kill, the shark latches on to the flesh with the suction power from its fleshy lips, and then spins its body around, carving out a cookie-shaped lump of meat like a wild melon baller. Cookiecutter sharks periodically lose their teeth, which they swallow to absorb the extra calcium. If you’d like to learn more about cookiecutters and their shark family members, see the links provided.
FAQ
1. What is a cookiecutter shark?
A cookiecutter shark is a small, deep-sea shark that grows up to 50 centimeters long. It is named after the cookie-shaped wounds it leaves on its prey.
2. Why are cookiecutter sharks also known as cigar sharks?
Cookiecutter sharks are also known as cigar sharks because of their dark, cylindrical body shape. They have a small head with large, greenish-glowing eyes and a large mouth with sharp teeth.
3. How do cookiecutter sharks hunt?
Cookiecutter sharks use their bioluminescent belly to attract prey. They attach themselves to larger animals, such as whales and dolphins, and use their sharp teeth to remove a small, circular piece of flesh. This is how they get their cookie-shaped nickname.
4. Where do cookiecutter sharks live?
Cookiecutter sharks live in deep, tropical waters around the world. They can be found at depths of up to 3,500 meters, but are most commonly found between 200 and 1,000 meters.
5. Are cookiecutter sharks dangerous to humans?
Cookiecutter sharks are not considered a threat to humans. They are too small to cause any harm to people, and live in deep waters where they rarely come into contact with humans.
6. How long do cookiecutter sharks live?
The lifespan of a cookiecutter shark is not well known, but it is estimated to be around 25 years.
7. What is the scientific name for cookiecutter sharks?
The scientific name for cookiecutter sharks is Isistius brasiliensis. They are part of the dogfish shark family, and are the only species in the genus Isistius.
8. How are cookiecutter sharks affected by human activity?
Cookiecutter sharks are not directly targeted by humans, but they can be caught as bycatch in deep-sea fishing nets. They are also affected by ocean pollution and climate change, which can alter their habitat and food sources.
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