FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes Western

1226 Sharks
Etmopterus brachyurus Smith and Radcliffe, 1912
En - Shorttail lanternshark; Fr - Sagre porte-feu à queue courte; Sp - Tollo lucero mocho.
Maximum total length about 50 cm. Occurs on or near the bottom at depths of 400 to 610 m. Without
interest to fisheries at present. Japan, the Philippines, and probably elsewhere in the western Pacific.
Records from southern Africa possibly based on other species. Often confused with Etmopterus
molleri and E. lucifer.
(after Last and Stevens, 1994)
Etmopterus lucifer Jordan and Snyder, 1902
En - Blackbelly lanternshark; Fr - Sagre lucifer; Sp - Tollo lucero diablo.
Maximum total length about 47 cm. On the outer continental and insular shelves and upper slopes on
or near the bottom, at depths of 183 to 1 000 m. Feeds mostly on squids and small bony fishes, including
lanternfish, and also shrimps. Interest to fisheries unknown at present. South Atlantic from Uruguay,
Argentina, and possibly Namibia, also southern Africa and the western Pacific from Japan, New
Caledonia, southern Australia, and New Zealand. Some records probably based on Etmopterus molleri
and E. brachyurus.
Etmopterus molleri Whitley, 1939
En - Slendertail lanternshark.
Maximum total length about 46 cm. Probably demersal on the upper continental slope in depths of
about 250 to 480 m. Only recently recognized as distinct from Etmopterus lucifer. Biology and
distribution poorly known. Without interest to fisheries. Known from Japan, eastern Australia, and
New Zealand.
(after Last and Stevens, 1994)