Family Dalatiidae

Sleeper Sharks

Selected Characters: Heavy body; no anal fin; no spines in dorsal fins.

Sleeper Sharks are widely distributed in the oceans of the world, from the Antarctic to the Arctic. They are usually found in deep water. This family includes the only sharks which normally live in the Arctic (Somniosus spp); it also includes one of the world's smallest sharks, 25-cm-long Squaliolus laticaudus. There are about 49 species in this family, but just one is represented in Puget Sound. The Pacific Sleeper Shark may reach lengths of about 7 meters. It is not known to be dangerous to people, and as a bottom-dweller is rarely encountered anyway. It feeds on fishes (especially flatfishes, Order Pleuronectiformes), seals, invertebrates, and carrion. This shark is rare in Puget Sound.

Puget Sound Species

Somniosus pacificus Pacific Sleeper Shark