smalleye pygmy shark
A specific species of deep-sea shark, Squaliolus aliae. Used in biological and scientific contexts.
The smalleye pygmy shark is a small shark that lives in the deep sea.
Katakana spelling is standard for this species name; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling exists but is rarely used; the word is usually written in kana.
Compound of 面長 (tsuranaga, 'long-faced') + 小人鮫 (kobitozame, 'pygmy shark'). The exact derivation is uncertain, but the name describes the shark's appearance.