Etmopterus pusillus (Lowe, 1839)
Smooth lanternshark
Etmopterus pusillus
photo by Andrade Coelho, R.P.

Family:  Etmopteridae (Lantern sharks)
Max. size:  50 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 0 - 1120 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: northern Gulf of Mexico and southern Brazil to Argentina (Ref. 247, 6871); one specimen collected off the Guianas (Ref. 13608). Eastern Atlantic: Portugal to Namibia (Ref. 247, 127434). Also in oceanic waters between Argentina and South Africa (Ref. 247). Western Indian Ocean: South Africa, and Arabian Sea (Ref.85183). Western Pacific: Australia (Ref. 6871), New Zealand (Ref. 26346), and Japan (Ref. 247). Southeast Pacific: Amber Seamount, Nasca and Sala-y-Gomez.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 2-2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0. Bladelike unicuspidate teeth in lower jaw and teeth with cusps and cusplets in upper jaw, relatively short snout, low, truncated denticles (Ref. 247). Blackish brown dorsally, with an obscure broad black mark running above, in front and behind pelvic fins (Ref. 247).
Biology:  Found on or near the bottom of continental and insular slopes at depths from 275 to 1,000 m (possibly to 2,000 m); also oceanic in the south Atlantic from the surface to 710 m (Ref. 6871), possibly as deep as 1998 m (Ref. 58302). Feeds on fish eggs, lanternfish, squid, and other small dogfish (Ref. 5578). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). Utilized dried salted for human consumption and for fishmeal (Ref. 247).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 21 November 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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