Etmopteridae (lantern sharks)
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Squalomorphii >
Squaliformes
These are small, black to brown, deepwater
dogfish with strong dorsal fin spines and small multicuspid upper
teeth. Lanternsharks have bladelike lower slicing teeth. Some
species have light organs on their flanks and bellies. The
blackbelly lanternshark (Etmopterus lucifer) may occur in the area
but could not be confirmed.
Species found in Southern Africa
Centroscyllium fabricii (Black dogfish) A dark brown or blackish, soft-skinned dogfish
with multicuspid small weak teeth in both jaws. Skin often scuffed
and white when trawled; juveniles have white fin margins. |
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Etmopterus baxteri (Giant lanternshark) A large, heavy-bodied lanternshark with a big
head and conspicuous lines of large, rough, conical denticles on the
body but absent from the head. Colour black with a short, broad
black mark above and slightly behind the pelvic inner margins; other
elongated black marks at the caudal fin base. |
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Etmopterus bigelowi (Blurred smooth lanternshark) |
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Etmopterus sp. nov. (Sculpted lanternshark) |
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Etmopterus
gracilispinis (Broadband lanternshark)
A stout brown lanternshark with a short tail;
denticles on body small, conical, and not forming conspicuous lines.
Underside of snout and abdomen grading to black, with inconspicous
elongated, broad black marks running above and behind pelvic fins,
and other elongated black marks at the caudal fin base and along the
fin. |
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Etmopterus cf.
molleri (Slendertail lanternshark) |
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Etmopterus pusillus (Smooth lanternshark) A slim blackish-brown lanternshark with small,
flat, smooth denticles, not arranged in lines. An obscure broad
black mark running above, in front and behind the pelvic fins. |
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Etmopterus sentosus (Thorny lanternshark) A slim grey-black lanternshark with 2 or 3
longitudinal rows of greatly enlarged hooked denticles on its
flanks, other denticles small, conical, and not arranged in lines.
Colour greyish-black above and below, with underside of snout and
abdomen black, an elongated broad black mark running above, in front
and behind the pelvic fins, and elongated black marks at the caudal
fin base and along its axis. |
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Etmopterus cf
brachyurus (Shorttail lanternshark) A slim grey-brown lanternshark with conspicuous
lines of rough denticles on the head and body. Underside of snout
and abdomen abruptly black, with a narrow elongated black mark
running above, in front and behind the pelvic fins. |
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