Family DALATIIDAE

Dalatiidae: Dalatias

© Copyright from McCulloch 1914.

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Introduction

Worldwide the Dalatiidae currently comprise seven genera and 10 species. Four genera and 5 species have been recorded from Australia.

Species are found near the bottom, or well above the bottom on or over the continental shelf and slope of all oceans. Some species are epipelagic found near the surface, at least at night. Dalatiids are generally less than 1 m in length, but vary in size from 25 cm for Squaliolus, the smallest known shark, to at least 1.8 m, for Dalatias. Most species are found in depths of a few metres to over 600 m.

Genera included here have traditionally been included in the family Squalidae. Nelson(1994) recognised four subfamilies of the Dalatiidae, which was followed by Hoese et al. (2006). The subfamilies are now recognised as separate families (Compagno et al. 2005, Nelson, 2006, Last & Stevens 2009). Shirai & Nakaya (1990) discussed relationships of some genera and Shirai (1992) presented a different classification. Australian species area treated in Compagno & Niem (1998), White (2008) and Last & Stevens (2009). Compagno et al. (2005) treated all species.

General References

Compagno, L.J.V., Dando, M. & Fowler, S. 2005. A Field Guide to the Sharks of the World. London : Collins 368 pp.

Compagno, L.J.V. & Niem, V.H. 1998. Hexanchidae, Echinorhinidae, Squalidae. pp. 1208-1232 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 2 687-1396 pp.

Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & Allen, G.R. 2006. Fishes. In, Beesley, P.L. & Wells, A. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing : Australia Part 1, pp. xxiv 1–670; Part 2, pp. xxi 671–1472; Part 3, pp. xxi 1473–2178.

Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 2009. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing Australia 2, 550 pp.

McCulloch, A.R. 1914. Report on some fishes obtained by the F.I.S. Endeavour on the coasts of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South and South-Western Australia. Part 2. Biological Results of the Fishing Experiments carried on by the F.I.S. Endeavour 1909-1914 2(3): 77-165 figs 1-15 pls 13-34 [pl. 14]

Nelson, J.S. 1994. Fishes of the World. New York : John Wiley & Sons 600 pp.

Nelson, J.S. 2006. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 601 pp.

Shirai, S. 1992. Squalean Phylogeny. A new framework of "squaloid" sharks and related taxa. Sapporo : Hokkaido University Press 151 pp.

Shirai, S. & Nakaya, K. 1990. Interrelationships of the Etmopterinae (Chondrichthys, Squaliformes). pp. 347-356 in Pratt, H.L. Jr, Gruber, S.H. & Taniuchi, T. Elasmobranchs as living resources: advances in the biology, ecology, systematics, and the status of the fisheries. NOAA Technical Report 90: 347-356

White, W. 2008. Shark Families Heterodontidae to Pristiophoridae. pp. 32-100 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Common Name References

Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 1994. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Canberra : CSIRO Australia 513 pp. 84 pls. [47] (Dogfishes)

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