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biodiversity explorer

the web of life in southern Africa

Etmopteridae (lantern sharks)

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Craniata > Vertebrata (vertebrates)  > Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) > Chondrichthyes > Elasmobranchii > Squalomorphii > Squaliformes

These are small, black to brown, deepwater dogfish with strong dorsal fin spines and small multicuspid upper teeth. Lanternsharks have bladelike lower slicing teeth. Some species have light organs on their flanks and bellies. The blackbelly lanternshark (Etmopterus lucifer) may occur in the area but could not be confirmed.

Species found in Southern Africa

Centroscyllium fabricii (Black dogfish)

A dark brown or blackish, soft-skinned dogfish with multicuspid small weak teeth in both jaws. Skin often scuffed and white when trawled; juveniles have white fin margins.

Etmopterus baxteri (Giant lanternshark)

A large, heavy-bodied lanternshark with a big head and conspicuous lines of large, rough, conical denticles on the body but absent from the head. Colour black with a short, broad black mark above and slightly behind the pelvic inner margins; other elongated black marks at the caudal fin base.

Etmopterus bigelowi (Blurred smooth lanternshark)

 

Etmopterus sp. nov. (Sculpted lanternshark)

 

Etmopterus gracilispinis (Broadband lanternshark)

A stout brown lanternshark with a short tail; denticles on body small, conical, and not forming conspicuous lines. Underside of snout and abdomen grading to black, with inconspicous elongated, broad black marks running above and behind pelvic fins, and other elongated black marks at the caudal fin base and along the fin.

Etmopterus cf. molleri (Slendertail lanternshark)

 

Etmopterus pusillus (Smooth lanternshark)

A slim blackish-brown lanternshark with small, flat, smooth denticles, not arranged in lines. An obscure broad black mark running above, in front and behind the pelvic fins.

Etmopterus sentosus (Thorny lanternshark)

A slim grey-black lanternshark with 2 or 3 longitudinal rows of greatly enlarged hooked denticles on its flanks, other denticles small, conical, and not arranged in lines. Colour greyish-black above and below, with underside of snout and abdomen black, an elongated broad black mark running above, in front and behind the pelvic fins, and elongated black marks at the caudal fin base and along its axis.

Etmopterus cf brachyurus (Shorttail lanternshark)

A slim grey-brown lanternshark with conspicuous lines of rough denticles on the head and body. Underside of snout and abdomen abruptly black, with a narrow elongated black mark running above, in front and behind the pelvic fins.