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Whitetail dogfish (Scymnodalatias albicauda) — Somniosidae

Whitetail dogfish

Scymnodalatias albicauda
Family: Somniosidae

The Whitetail dogfish (Scymnodalatias albicauda) is a saltwater fish of the family Somniosidae that grows up to 111 cm.

Length
111 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
150.0–510.0 m
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless

Description

The whitetail dogfish is a deep-sea shark (Somniosidae) found worldwide in cool, deep open waters. The species grows to about 1 metre and has a slender, dark-brown body with a conspicuously pale tail edge, a pointed snout and large eyes. As a hunter of the dim open ocean it feeds on small fish, squid and crustaceans. This rarely seen shark is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Whitetail dogfish?

The Whitetail dogfish has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Whitetail dogfish live?

The Whitetail dogfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Whitetail dogfish get?

The Whitetail dogfish grows to a maximum of about 111 cm.

Is the Whitetail dogfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Whitetail dogfish is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Witstaart-doornhaai sourced
English name
Whitetail dogfish sourced
Scientific name
Scymnodalatias albicauda
Family
Somniosidae
Other names
Whitetail dogfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
111.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Min depth (m)
150.0 verified
Max depth (m)
510.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Te vangen met natuurlijk aas of kunstaas, afgestemd op de grootte en het leefgebied van de soort. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

More from the family Somniosidae

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