Taxonomy
Order Squaliformes (dogfish sharks), Family Dalatidae (kitefin sharks)
Zone
Epipelagic to Mesopelagic
Distribution
Found worldwide in temperate and tropical climates
The Cookie Cutter Shark is a species of dogfish that lives in the Mesopelagic reason, and emerges to the epipelagic zone to hunt for food. It gets its name due to the consistent cookie-cutter shaped bite mark it gives its prey.
The Cookie Cutter tends to prey upon larger organisms including other, bigger sharks (i.e. the Great White). Because of this, it is considered as a parasite, meaning it takes something from the organism without giving anything in return without killing the other organism. Species like the Great White, Tuna, and different whales have all been seen with scars from these sharks Fishermen sometimes will even pull up fish only to discover they've been attacked by the Cookie Cutter.
The Cookie Cutter tends to attack its prey by using its lips to latch onto other organisms, and then biting down with that bottom rows (around 25-31 rows) of sharp teeth seen below. This creates a perfectly circular hole, which is why it is nicknamed the Cookie Cutter Shark. It also is named the Cigar Shark because of its body shape.
“Cookiecutter Shark.” Oceana, oceana.org/marine-life/cookiecutter-shark/.
