![]() These photophores and chromatophores help the fish in adapting to the environment, as the photophores are used for camouflage during feeding in shallow waters to escape the attention of predators, as well as in attracting smaller fish to feed upon. The Dwarf lantern shark like other members of the shark family is a carnivore that basically feeds on Krill, shrimp, zooplankton, as well as smaller fish. The ventral side of the fish’s body is covered with black markings, and some of these markings (photophores) glows, and another marking on the pelvic fin emit chromatophores that assist the fish in blending into its environment. Among the dwarf lantern shark, the female species are generally bigger than the males. The dwarf lantern shark teeth are designed for cutting and slicing. The total number of teeth of the dwarf lantern shark is between 50 and 57, that is, it has between 20 to 23 teeth in the upper jaw, and 30 to 34 teeth in the lower jaw. The dwarf lantern shark is generally dark brown in the dorsal region, while the ventral region color is a velvety black that is bioluminescent. Also, it has big bulbous eyes that enable it to navigate in the dark environment under the sea. The biggest part of its body is a flattened head that occupies about one-third of the entire body. Due to this small length, it is possible to place the dwarf lantern shark on the palm. The whole length of the dwarf lantern fish is between 6 to 8 inches in length (with some claimed to grow up to 18 inches), the young sharks can be as small as 2.2 to 2.4 inches at birth. The scientific name of this fish species is Etmopterus perryi derived from a notable shark expert Perry Gilbert.ĭwarf lantern shark fish is an exceedingly small fish when compared to other fish species in the dogfish family. Dwarf lantern sharks are often targeted by parasites which shorten the lifespan of these creatures. The dwarf lantern shark belongs to the dog shark family ‘etmopteridae,’ and is the smallest species in this family. ![]() The lifespan of the dwarf lantern shark is estimated between 20-30 years. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the dwarf lantern shark has been labeled as data deficient, meaning there is not enough research on this species of fish to adequately assess their status. It is unknown if they are an endangered species. They rarely swim out of their ecological niche under the sea between depths of 6 feet, which makes the species difficult to catch and observe. The Dwarf lantern shark was recently discovered in 1964. The name of the shark comes from the fact that they are a small (dwarf) shark and are bioluminescent (lantern) in the dark environment of the deep sea level (Benthic zone) where they dwell. The dwarf lantern shark is among the smallest species of fish in the world. Listed as “Data Deficient” by the IUCN.Dwarf lantern shark (Photo: Wikimedia Commons) ![]() Like other deepwater chondrichthyan species, more information regarding its biology, ecology, and importance in fisheries is required. There are currently no conservation measures in place for this species. This shark apparently inhabits the upper continental slope at a depth of 283–439 m. The Dwarf lanternshark is a bathypelagic species found off the coasts of Colombia and Venezuela, occurring between Barranquilla and Santa Marta, near the Guajira Peninsula, and between the Los Testigos Island and Grenada. Females bear litters of two or three young, each measuring 5.5–6.0 cm (2.2–2.4 in) long. This species is ovoviviparous, with the developing fetuses being sustained by a yolk sac until birth. some of the ventral black markings are composed of light-producing photophores, while others are composed of pigment-containing chromatophores. This shark is dark brown with a striking and distinctive pattern of black markings on its ventral surface, a continuous or broken, fine black line along the middle of its back. The skin is covered by thin, needle-like dermal denticles. The caudal fin is low, with a moderate lower lobe and a ventral notch near the tip of the upper lobe. The trunk is short with two relatively close, large dorsal fins bearing grooved spines in the front. There are 25-35 tooth rows in the upper jaw and 30-34 tooth rows in the lower jaw. The eyes are large, with the anterior and posterior corners acute. ![]() It has a long, wide, flattened head comprising a fourth to a fifth of its total length. The Dwarf lanternshark appears to reach a maximum size of about 20 cm TL. The Dwarf lanternshark is a little-known species of dogfish shark in the family Etmopteridae, the smallest shark in the world, found in Colombia and Venezuela.
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