Etmopterus pusillus
No common name
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Chondrichthyes (Cartilaginous Fishes)
Squaliformes (Dogfish Sharks)
Etmopteridae (Lantern Sharks)
Etmopterus
Etmopterus pusillus
Description
This species account was compiled from
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Characters
Body shape: elongated. 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).
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.
Habitat Associations
Marine. bathydemersal. depth range 0-1120 m.
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).
Max length: 50.0 cm TL.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: internal (oviduct); bearers (internal live bearers); parental care: maternal. Ovoviviparous (Ref. 247). Distinct pairing with embrace (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2019-11-21. Resilience: Low (Fec assumed to be <100).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: minor commercial.
References
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Compagno, L.J.V. (1984) FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 4. Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 1 - Hexanchiformes to Lamniformes. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(4/1):1-249. Rome, FAO.
Compagno, L.J.V., D.A. Ebert and M.J. Smale (1989) Guide to the sharks and rays of southern Africa. New Holland (Publ.) Ltd., London. 158 p.
Last, P.R. and J.D. Stevens (1994) Sharks and rays of Australia. CSIRO, Australia. 513 p.
Cortés, E. (1999) Standardized diet compositions and trophic levels of sharks. ICES J. Mar. Sci. 56:707-717.
Bianchi, G., K.E. Carpenter, J.-P. Roux, F.J. Molloy, D. Boyer and H.J. Boyer (1999) FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. Field guide to the living marine resources of Namibia. FAO, Rome. 265 p.
Weigmann, S. (2016) Annotated checklist of the living sharks, batoids and chimaeras (Chondrichthyes) of the world, with a focus on biogeographical diversity. J. Fish Biol. 88(1):1-201. DOI: 10.1111/jfb.12874
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