Knowra Cookiecutter shark Cookiecutter shark The cookiecutter shark (Isistius brasiliensis) is a small deep-water shark that removes distinctive circular plugs of flesh from larger animals. Its dark underside and luminous markings help it lure prey close.
Bioluminescence : Light produced by living organisms through chemical reactions or other biological processes. Luminous markings on its underside may attract larger animals within biting range.
Shark bite mark : A wound or scar left by a shark’s bite, often identifiable by tooth pattern and shape. The shark’s characteristic round wounds can identify its feeding even when the animal is absent.
Dolphin : An aquatic mammal in the toothed-whale group, found in oceans and some rivers. Dolphins can carry the shark’s distinctive circular scars, documenting attacks on living prey.
Isistius : A genus of small deep-water sharks that includes the cookiecutter shark and closely related species. The cookiecutter shark is one member of this genus of luminous, flesh-biting sharks.
Suction feeding : Feeding that draws prey or food into an animal’s mouth using a pressure difference. The shark attaches its mouth to a victim before cutting away a plug of tissue.
Shark depredation : The removal or damage of captured fish by sharks before or during fishing operations. Cookiecutter sharks sometimes damage hooked fish and catch, complicating fisheries.
Sperm whale : A large toothed whale known for deep dives and a massive, block-shaped head. Sperm whales have been recorded with cookiecutter-shark scars despite their great size.
Longnose lancetfish : A large, slender predatory fish of the open ocean, with a long snout and prominent teeth. Lancetfish are among the large marine animals reported with cookiecutter bite scars.
Shark dentition : The arrangement and structure of teeth in sharks, including adaptations for gripping, cutting, or crushing food. Its lower teeth form a broad cutting edge suited to excising flesh.
Animal-borne camera : A camera attached to an animal to record its movements, surroundings, or behavior. Tags and cameras help investigate encounters between deep-water sharks and larger animals.
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