Description

Dorsal spines (total): 2; Anal spines: 0. A large, heavy-bodied lanternshark with a big head (Ref. 5578), bladelike unicuspidate teeth in lower jaw and teeth with cusps and cusplets in upper jaw, stocky body, conspicuous lines of denticles on body, conspicuous black markings on underside of body and tail, with tail marking short and not extending far posteriorly (Ref. 247). Dark brown or black in color, possibly darker below (Ref. 26346).

Common Names

No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Elasmobranchii

Order: Squaliformes

Family: Etmopteridae

Genus: Etmopterus

Species: Etmopterus granulosus (Günther, 1880)

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

Found on outermost continental shelves and upper slopes (Ref. 247). Feeds on bony fishes including lanternfish, barracudina, synaphobranchid eels, oreo dories, hake, rattails, bathylagids, idiacanthids; also on squids (including histioteuthids and ommastrephids), octopuses, euphausiids, mysids, penaeid shrimp, salps, sponges and ribbonworms (Nemertina) (Ref. 124555). Bioluminescence observed, with the dorsal photophores, flank markings, and brighter pectoral fin and claspers are likely to be used for intraspecific communications and the ventrally emitted light is likely to be used for counterillumination (Ref. 123656). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205), with 10-13 in a litter, size at birth about 18 cm (Ref. 6871) to possibly 30 cm (Ref. 124555), Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 247.

Habitat

oceanic