Best Etmopteridae
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The viper shark, formally described as Trigonognathus kabeyai, is a rare species of deep-sea dogfish belonging to the family Etmopteridae. First discovered off the southern coast of Japan in 1986, it typically inhabits the mesopelagic zone. It is distinguished by its dark coloration and uniquely pro...
The Dwarf Lanternshark, *Etmopterus perryi*, is a diminutive shark species inhabiting deep ocean environments off the coasts of Colombia and Venezuela. Notably small, reaching approximately 21 centimeters in length, it’s recognized for its bioluminescent photophores – light-producing organs – which...
The Smooth Lanternshark is a small deep-sea squalid shark notable for possessing bioluminescent photophores on its ventral surface, first described in 1839.
Ninja Lanternshark (Etmopterus benchleyi) is a deep-sea shark described in 2015 from the Pacific coast of Central America, named after author Peter Benchley with 'ninja' coined by children assisting researchers.
The velvet belly lanternshark, Etmopterus spinax, is a small deep-water shark found in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It has a dark underside bearing light-producing organs called photophores, which generate bioluminescence and may help reduce its silhouette when viewed f...
The blackbelly lanternshark is Etmopterus lucifer, a deepwater dogfish notable for ventral bioluminescent photophores and a 1902 description from Japan.
Etmopterus unicolor, a small bioluminescent lanternshark of the Indo-Pacific found at 200–1,000 m, bearing photophore rows along its flanks and abdomen.
Etmopterus virens, a small bioluminescent shark endemic to the Gulf of Mexico, found at 190–720 m and named for the faint greenish glow produced by its ventral photophores.
Etmopterus bullisi, a small lanternshark of the western North Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, distinguished by linear photophore rows running lengthwise along its flanks.
