Pygmy sharks underbelly glows to attract prey that swims beneath it.
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Pygmy Shark Scientific Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Chondrichthyes
- Order
- Squaliformes
- Family
- Dalatiidae
- Genus
- Euprotomicrus
- Scientific Name
- Euprotomicrus bispinatus
Read our Complete Guide to Classification of Animals.
Pygmy Shark Conservation Status
Pygmy Shark Facts
- Name Of Young
- Pups
- Group Behavior
- Mainly solitary
- Fun Fact
- Pygmy sharks underbelly glows to attract prey that swims beneath it.
- Most Distinctive Feature
- Luminous organs
- Litter Size
- 8 pups
- Habitat
- Pygmy sharks live close to the ocean floor at depths of 6,500 feet during the day
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Average Litter Size
- 8 pups
- Lifestyle
- Nocturnal
- Favorite Food
- Deepwater squid
- Number Of Species
- 1
- Migratory
- 1
Pygmy Shark Physical Characteristics
- Color
- Black
- Skin Type
- Scales
- Length
- 8.6-11 inches
- Venomous
- No
- Aggression
- Medium
View all of the Pygmy Shark images!
The Pygmy shark is the second smallest shark in the world, with females reaching lengths between 8.6 to 10 inches, while the males only measure 8.6 to 8.7 inches. They are black with light edges on their two dorsal fins, with the front fin smaller than the back. The body is cylindrical, and it has a bulbous snout with big eyes.
The pygmy shark has luminous organs along the underbelly that make it glow, which is a mysterious phenomenon. One theory is that prey swimming beneath the pygmy shark might be attracted to the glow and swim closer. Another is that it provides camouflage from predators because the glow merges with the light from the upper surface, making it harder to see. A third is that it emits pheromones to attract a mate.

Here, a pygmy shark rests on a scale. It’s small enough to fit in a human hand.
Pygmy Shark Scientific Name and Conservation Status
The Pygmy shark’s scientific name is Euprotomicrus bispinatus. It belongs to the Family Dalatiidae and falls under the Class Chondrichthyes.
Behavior and Habitat
Not much is known about the pygmy shark’s behavior except that they are mostly solitary. However, they do sometimes gather in groups, especially when migrating vertically to find food. Pygmy sharks prefer a diet of deepwater squid, bony fish, and crustaceans.
Pygmy sharks live close to the ocean floor at depths of 6,500 feet during the day. However, their preferred prey rises to the surface to feed on plankton at night, so pygmy sharks follow them to depths of around 650 feet.
Because they are so small and live in deep water, they are not a threat to humans. They prefer temperate and oceanic areas in the South Indian, South Atlantic, and Pacific oceans.
Predators and Threats
Pygmy sharks have no recorded threats or predators. Because they are so tiny, they can avoid getting caught in fishermen’s nets. However, there are cases where people have accidentally caught them while fishing. Researchers require more information on whether overfishing is affecting their population.
Reproduction
These sharks are ovoviviparous and develop eggs inside the uterus where they hatch. The pygmy shark gives birth to live young with an estimated litter size of eight pups, which measure 2.3 to 3.9 inches at birth. Pygmy sharks are fully grown when they reach around 11 inches.
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Sources
- Sharks Info / Accessed June 23, 2022
- Fish Base / Accessed June 23, 2022
- Sheppards Software / Accessed June 23, 2022
- Shark Water Extinction / Accessed June 23, 2022
- Planet Shark Divers / Accessed June 23, 2022
- Shark References / Accessed June 23, 2022
- Britannica / Accessed June 23, 2022
- Shark Research Institute / Accessed June 23, 2022
- The Website of Everything / Accessed June 23, 2022
- IUCN Red List / Accessed June 23, 2022