Home›Shark Species›Heteroscymnoides Marleyi

Species page

Heteroscymnoides Marleyi

This species belongs to a deepwater-oceanic family that includes the luminous cookiecutter and kitefin sharks. Treat the profile as a provisional guide to small, dark, often poorly seen sharks of the dim midwater world. Dalatiids are usually small to medium sharks with no anal fin, two spineless dorsal fins, and in many species a dark body adapted to deep or open-ocean life. Several species also have light-producing organs. Kitefin, cookiecutter, and related sharks occur in tropical to temperate seas around the world, mainly in oceanic or deepwater settings. Many species have broad but thinly sampled distributions.

Heteroscymnoides marleyi
Get the field guide on the App Store Browse related topics

Overview

This species belongs to a deepwater-oceanic family that includes the luminous cookiecutter and kitefin sharks. Treat the profile as a provisional guide to small, dark, often poorly seen sharks of the dim midwater world. Dalatiids are usually small to medium sharks with no anal fin, two spineless dorsal fins, and in many species a dark body adapted to deep or open-ocean life. Several species also have light-producing organs. Kitefin, cookiecutter, and related sharks occur in tropical to temperate seas around the world, mainly in oceanic or deepwater settings. Many species have broad but thinly sampled distributions.

This family is most often associated with mesopelagic waters, deep slopes, and offshore environments. Some species make nightly movements toward the surface.

Why it matters: Some dalatiids glow, helping them blend into faint downwelling light from above.

Scientific nameHeteroscymnoides marleyi
FamilyDalatiidae
OrderSqualiformes
Max length0.3 m
RegionSouth Africa, South Africa (country)

What this shark is

Dalatiids are usually small to medium sharks with no anal fin, two spineless dorsal fins, and in many species a dark body adapted to deep or open-ocean life. Several species also have light-producing organs.

Where it lives

Kitefin, cookiecutter, and related sharks occur in tropical to temperate seas around the world, mainly in oceanic or deepwater settings. Many species have broad but thinly sampled distributions.

This family is most often associated with mesopelagic waters, deep slopes, and offshore environments. Some species make nightly movements toward the surface.

How it differs from similar sharks

Body shape, size, and habitat are the main cues that separate it from related sharks.

Compare it against Euprotomicroides Zantedeschia, Darkie Charlie, and Mollisquama Parini.

Why it is notable

People rarely meet them alive. Most human relevance comes from unusual bite marks on prey, bycatch, or occasional records from deepwater fisheries.

Related shark pages

These links are meant to help readers continue through related species, not force extra clicks.

Digital illustration of Euprotomicroides zantedeschia in lateral view; not to scale.
Euprotomicroides zantedeschia

Euprotomicroides Zantedeschia

This species belongs to a deepwater-oceanic family that includes the luminous cookiecutter and kitefin sharks. Treat the profile as a provisional guide to small, dark, often poorly seen sharks of the dim midwater world.

0.4 m max
Kitefin shark reference photograph showing the thick deep-sea body and broad rounded fins; not to scale.
Dalatias licha

Darkie Charlie

Common name: Kitefin shark

This species belongs to a deepwater-oceanic family that includes the luminous cookiecutter and kitefin sharks. Treat the profile as a provisional guide to small, dark, often poorly seen sharks of the dim midwater world.

1.8 m max
Mollisquama parini

Mollisquama Parini

This species belongs to a deepwater-oceanic family that includes the luminous cookiecutter and kitefin sharks. Treat the profile as a provisional guide to small, dark, often poorly seen sharks of the dim midwater world.

Pygmy shark reference photograph showing the tiny cylindrical body and dark coloration; not to scale.
Euprotomicrus bispinatus

pygmy shark

This species belongs to a deepwater-oceanic family that includes the luminous cookiecutter and kitefin sharks. Treat the profile as a provisional guide to small, dark, often poorly seen sharks of the dim midwater world.

0.3 m max