Galapagos Species Database

The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.

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Isistius brasiliensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)

tollo cigarro, Cookiecutter sharkSqualelet féroceSqualelet féroce

The cookiecutter shark Isistius brasiliensis is distinctive for the prominent dark collar marking around its throat,Eyes set anterior of head but sufficiently far back to lack an extensive anterior binocular field. Pectoral fins subquadrate; pelvic fins larger than dorsal fins (Ref.247). Tooth count: 30-37/25-31. Vertebral count: 81-89. Spiral valve count: 8-10 (Ref. 48844). Dark brown dorsally, paler ventrally except for blackish band across throat; tips of caudal lobe blackish (Ref. 6577), no anal fin, huge, triangular-cusped teeth without blades, short, bulbous snout and a unique suctorial lips (Ref. 247).

Deep-water:oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); marine; depth range 1 - 3700 m (Ref. 55584),Bathypelagic

Taxonomy

Domain
Eukaryota

Kingdom
Animalia

Phylum
Chordata

Class
Elasmobranchii

Order
Squaliformes

Family
Dalatiidae

Genus
Isistius

Species
brasiliensis

Taxon category: Accepted

Origin: Native

Status

IUCN Red List Category: Not evaluated

Distribution

Distribution: circumtropical

References

  • Grove, J.S. Lavenberg, R.J. (1997) The Fishes of the Galapagos Islands. Stanford University Press, Stanford California. 862 pp.
  • Appeltans, W. Bouchet, P., Boxshall, G.A., Fauchald, K., Gordon, D.P., Hoeksema, B.W., Poore, G.C.B., van Soest, R.W.M., Stöhr, S., Walter, T.C., Costello, M.J. (eds.) (2010) World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). Available online at http://www.marinespecies.org.
  • Froese, R. Pauly, D. (eds.) (2010) FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org
  • McCosker, J.E. Rosenblatt, R.H. (2010) The fishes of the Galápagos Archipelago: an update. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sc., Ser. 4, vol. 61, Suppl. II, no. 11: 167-195.

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This page should be cited as follows:

"Galapagos Species Database, Isistius brasiliensis", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=12815. Accessed 1 July 2025.