Velvet belly lanternshark (Etmopterus spinax)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Etmopterus spinax
- Common name
- Velvet belly lanternshark
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Etmopteridae
- Genus
- Etmopterus
- Size
- 30–60 cm
- Depth
- 70–2500 m
- IUCN status
- Vulnerable (VU)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- open-water
- Behaviours
- solitary
- Ocean zones
- East Atlantic, Mediterranean
Description
Etmopterus spinax reaches 60 cm. Small lanternshark (Etmopteridae) Mediterranean and Northeast temperate Atlantic with elongated uniformly black-brown body with distinctive ventral bioluminescent photophores (counter-illumination camouflage), two dorsals with long sharp spines. Lives from 70 to 2500 m on continental slopes of Mediterranean, Northeast Atlantic, North Sea. Listed VU by IUCN following deep trawl bycatch. Active bioluminescence used for intraspecific communication and camouflage. Rare photo subject due to depth, but sometimes observable in technical dives > 80 m. Heavily studied for bioluminescence.
Photo of Velvet belly lanternshark
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Velvet belly lanternshark?
- Velvet belly lanternshark (Etmopterus spinax) reaches 30–60 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Velvet belly lanternshark?
- Velvet belly lanternshark is found between 70–2500 m deep.
- Is the Velvet belly lanternshark dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Velvet belly lanternshark?
- IUCN status: Vulnerable (VU).
- Where can you find the Velvet belly lanternshark?
- Found in: East Atlantic, Mediterranean.
Other species in the family Etmopteridae
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 105913)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2421064)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia