Page 47 - Shark
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Bite sized
Cookiecutters have
large teeth for sharks
0 1,200 2,400 3,600 miles only 20 in (0.5 m) long.
The common cookiecutter
(one of two species) uses its teeth to
cut out chunks of flesh from large
fish as well as whales, seals, and
dolphins. It may wait for such large
animals to come close rather than
chasing after them. The cookiecutter
forms a suction cup with its lips,
then bites and swivels around to
take an oval-shaped plug of of flesh.
Cookiecutters have also taken bites
out of the rubber components of of
submarines and undersea cables.
goddess of light
The cookiecutters’ scientific name
is Isistius brasiliensis after Isis, the
Egyptian goddess of light. These BoRing Bites
sharks have many light organs on The wounds on this seal were
their bellies and glow in the dark. made by a cookiecutter shark
This may attract prey like whales biting into its flesh.
to come close enough to be bitten.
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