Smalltooth sand tiger
Odontaspis ferox
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Smalltooth sand tiger
- Scientific
- Odontaspis ferox
- Dhivehi
- މީދާ މިޔަރުTheyo miyaru
- Group
- Sharks
- Maximum size
- Up to about 4.5 m (total length); max. published weight 289 kg (FishBase); MRS 1997 gives max. 3.6 m
- Depth and habitat
- Near the bottom and in the water column above it, recorded from 10 to 2000 m (usually 13 to 880 m)
- IUCN status
- EN · EndangeredEndangered (EN), assessed 2023
Description
A large, bulky shark with a short pointed snout, small eyes, spike-like teeth that protrude from the mouth and two large dorsal fins of nearly equal size; it is grey and sometimes speckled with reddish spots. It lives near the bottom on deep slopes and feeds on fish, squid and shrimps. It is rarely seen anywhere in the world.
In the Maldives
MRS (1997) gives two Dhivehi names, theyo miyaru ('oil shark', for its large oily liver) and meedhaa miyaru. MRS notes it is caught on deep longlines set outside the atolls for spiny dogfish. Sharks are fully protected in the Maldives (since 2010).
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Odontaspis-ferox.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/މީދާ_މިޔަރު
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Odontaspis_ferox_3.jpg
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives (FAO/BOBP MAG/21) gives 'Theyo miyaru, Meedhaa miyaru' (Latin form). Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'މީދާ މިޔަރު' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it matches the Latin form.