cookiecutter shark; cigar shark
A small deep-sea shark (Isistius brasiliensis) known for taking round, cookie-shaped bites out of larger animals. The Japanese name comes from the round bite marks resembling a Daruma doll.
The cookiecutter shark is a small shark that lives in the deep sea.
Cookiecutter shark bite marks were found on the whale's body.
Usually written in katakana; the kanji form 達磨鮫 is rare.
Kanji spelling; rarely used. 達磨 refers to a Daruma doll, alluding to the shark's round bite marks.
From 達磨 (daruma, 'Daruma doll') + 鮫 (same, 'shark'), referring to the round, cookie-shaped wounds it inflicts, which resemble a Daruma doll. The exact origin of the name is uncertain.