Ecology of Dalatias licha
 
Main Ref. Wetherbee, B.M., S.H. Gruber and E. Cortes, 1990
Remarks Found on the continental shelf and slope (Refs. 75154, 247). Mainly found on or near the bottom but readily occurs well off the substrate (Ref. 247, 58302). Often pelagic (Ref. 58302). Found singly or in small schools (Ref. 6871). Feeds mainly on deepwater bony fish, but also skates, other sharks (etmopterids in Ref. 123656), cephalopods and crustaceans (Refs. 5578, 568). This bioluminiscent shark (currently the largest luminous vertebrate) emit light ventrally to counterilluminate which might be used to illuminate the ocean floor while searching/hunting for prey; or to stealthily approach prey, using counterillumination camouflage, before striking fast when it is close enough (Ref. 123656). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205), with 10-20 young born at 30-42 cm (Ref. 26346).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

Marine - Neritic Marine - Oceanic Brackishwater Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies
  • supra-littoral zone
  • littoral zone
  • sublittoral zone
  • epipelagic
  • mesopelagic
  • epipelagic
  • abyssopelagic
  • hadopelagic
  • estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas
  • mangroves
  • marshes/swamps
  • rivers/streams
  • lakes/ponds
  • caves
  • exclusively in caves
Highighted items on the list are where Dalatias licha may be found.

Habitat

Substrate Benthic: mobile; Pelagic;
Substrate Ref. Mundy, B.C., 2005
Special habitats
Special habitats Ref.

Associations

Ref.
Associations
Associated with
Association remarks
Parasitism

Feeding

Feeding type mainly animals (troph. 2.8 and up)
Feeding type Ref. Cortés, E., 1999
Feeding habit hunting macrofauna (predator)
Feeding habit Ref. Wetherbee, B.M., S.H. Gruber and E. Cortes, 1990
Trophic Level(s)
Estimation method Original sample Unfished population Remark
Troph s.e. Troph s.e.
From diet composition 4.23 0.36 4.05 0.60 Troph of juv./adults from 2 studies.
From individual food items 4.30 0.82 Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref. Cortés, E., 1999
(e.g. 346)
(e.g. cnidaria)
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