Etmopterus fusus Last, Burgess & Séret, 2002
Pygmy lanternshark

Family:  Etmopteridae (Lantern sharks)
Max. size:  25.8 cm TL (male/unsexed); 29.3 cm TL (female)
Environment:  pelagic-oceanic; marine; depth range 430 - 550 m
Distribution:  Eastern Indian Ocean: northern Western Australia and possibly Java, Indonesia.
Diagnosis:  Vertebrae: 77-81. Body firm fusiform, almost cylindrical. Dorsal and ventral surfaces dark; pectoral fin pale distally. Head relatively long (> 21% TL). Mouth moderate, subequal to eye length. Upper eyelid with pale naked patch. Caudal peduncle rather elongate, ca 2-2.6 times greatest horizontal length of D1 including spine about a 5th of TL. Upper teeth of mature males with 7 cusps. Denticles short, robust, arranged in regular rows. Posterior branch of flank marking truncate and merging ventrally with post-pelvic marking. Anterior part of caudal base marking very broad, enveloping ventral surface and extending onto flanks; presence of oval central caudal marking; upper caudal marking comma-shaped. Monospondylous centra 36-38 (Ref. 45056).
Biology:  Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 28 April 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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