Short-tail lanternshark

Etmopterus brachyurus

Etmopterus brachyurus is a species of the genus Etmopterus within the lantern sharks ( Etmopterinae; classified as family Etmopteridae ). The range of the species is limited to parts of the Pacific.

Appearance and characteristics

Etmopterus brachyurus reaches a body length of about 24 to 28 centimeters in females and about 50 centimeters in males, the well-known maximum length is 67 centimeters. He has a typical for the lantern sharks elongated body with a long and wide at the same time and on the upper side flattened head and a relatively short tail. The body color is uniformly dark brown to black-brown with a darker side of the abdomen with conspicuous markings on the belly and fins. The skin is relatively rough and fitted with eye-catching rows of hook-shaped denticles, ranging from head to tail. He also has the typical for the lantern sharks light organs on the ventral side.

It has no anal fin and two dorsal fins with the regulatory typical spines before the dorsal fin. The first dorsal fin starts further behind the pectoral fins, and is smaller than the second. The second spike is long and slightly curved. Like all species of the family owned pets five gill slits and have a spray hole behind the eye.

Dissemination

The distribution area of Etmopterus brachyurus is limited to the western Pacific Ocean, finds come from the region around Japan, the Philippines and Australia. This is partly assumed that the animals are attributable from the Southern Pacific one or two other species.

Way of life

Etmopterus brachyurus lives at the bottom on the continental shelf at depths of up to 481 meters. Like other sharks it feeds predatory, probably of smaller fish and invertebrates. About his life are very little data.

He is like other species of the order viviparous ( ovoviviparous ).

Endangering

Etmopterus brachyurus is not included in a risk category in the IUCN Red List due to missing data and is classified as " data deficient ". He has worked as a food fish no meaning and is accordingly no directed fishing.