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Definition of kitefin shark
kitefin shark
Plural:kitefin sharks
kitefin shark Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A moderately sized, deep-water species of dogfish shark found sporadically in oceans worldwide, distinguished by its short blunt snout, thick fringed lips, and notable bioluminescence, making it one of the largest known glowing vertebrates.
Example
"During the deep-sea expedition off the coast of New Zealand, researchers were amazed to capture footage of a bioluminescent kitefin shark hunting in the dark."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for kitefin sharkWord Origin & Etymology
The common name derives from the distinctive, roughly kite-like shape of its dorsal fins, appended to the general term 'shark'.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Kitefin shark. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/kitefin shark