The cookie-cutter shark could also be called the "sneaky shark." This small predator feeds on other sharks and large marine creatures, even whales. The fish lures its victims near its body with trick lighting, then as they draw near, takes a quick bite out of the victim. The mark that's left is perfectly circular-like a cookie cutter. The shark then slips away to pull its trick again.
Perfect Slice: This small shark has several rows of tiny teeth in its upper jaw, and just as many big, sharp teeth in its lower jaw. This strange dental set-up helps the cookie-cutter slice flesh from the biggest creatures in the ocean.
Suction Cup: The cookie-cutter shark uses big "lips" to create powerful suction against the skin of big sharks and marine mammals. Once attached, the shark sinks its lower teeth into the victim and spins around like a can opener to cut out a perfect circle of flesh.
Glow-in-the-Dark Shark[]
This dolphin carries the bite mark of a cookie-cutter.
The cookie-cutter shark can't swim up to its victims without fear of being eaten, so it has a clever way to lure them close to its dangerous teeth. Part of the fish's belly lights up with a green glow. To any creature below, this blends in with the sun and moonlight that filters down from the surface-disguising most of the shark's body and making the rest of it look like small, easy prey. The predators then swim up to eat it, but the cookie-cutter maneuvers around them and latches on.
Going Down: This shark travels up and down like an elevator in the ocean. It spends its days in waters up to 11,500 feet deep, then migrates up at night to about 1,000 feet.
Recycler: The cookie-cutter relies on super-sharp teeth to be able to slice flesh from its victims quickly, before they can strike back. It constantly re-grows teeth, and swallows the old ones so it can re-use the calcium to build new ones.
Shark Snack[]
- The shark floats in the water, camouflaging most of its body with a green glow. Only the fish's shadowed neck is visible from below, which attracts a dolphin.
- The dolphin moves in to attack its prey, but the shark twists and turns, grabbing a piece of the dolphin's dorsal fin with its jaws. The shark sinks its teeth in and spins.
- The cookie cutter quickly slices a perfect disk of flesh from the dolphin's fin and swims away, leaving the dolphin with an open, bleeding wound that may attract other predators.