Smalleye Lanternshark, Etmopterus litvinovi Parin & Kotlyar 1990
Other Names: Ninja Lantern Shark, Ninja Lanternshark, Smalleye Lantern Shark
An adult female Smalleye Lanternshark, Etmopterus litvinovi (holotype of Etmopterus benchleyi, USNM 423195), from off Costa Rica. Source: after Fig. 1, in Vásquez et al. (2015) Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation 17: 43-55. License: CC by Attribution
Summary:
A small uniformly black lantern shark with a narrow translucent to whitish margin on all fins, and a pale green pupil. The species has a narrow, oblong pineal window, sparse obscure light organs, and no apparent markings on the sides.
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2025, Etmopterus litvinovi in Fishes of Australia, accessed 28 Jun 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/5717
Smalleye Lanternshark, Etmopterus litvinovi Parin & Kotlyar 1990
More Info
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Distribution |
SW of Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean, AUS EEZ. Elsewhere the species in known from the Southeastern Pacific: Mexico south to off northern Chile. Inhabits seamounts, ridges and rises. |
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Features |
Body robust, fusiform; eye large; spiracle large, behind eye; snout short, pre-oral length 6.9–9.0% TL; mouth broad, strongly arched, width 1.0–1.5 times into pre-oral length. Upper teeth with a single media cusp and 1-2 smaller points on each side; lower jaw teeth compressed, low blade-like, with small, strongly oblique tips; dermal denticles short, slender, with slightly hook-like conical crowns, dense around eyes and gill openings, sparse to bare under snout tip and around mouth. First dorsal fin similar in size to second dorsal fin; second-dorsal-fin spine 1.6–2.3 times longer than first-dorsal-fin spine; second-dorsal-fin spine height greater than second-dorsal fin apex; interdorsal-fin space moderately long, 19.2–21.4% TL; caudal-fin base short and narrow; caudal fin fin strongly asymmetrical with notch at tip. |
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Colour |
Two dorsal fins, first originating behind pectoral-fin tips, second dorsal fin larger than first, originating over rear quarter of pelvic-fin base; second dorsal-fin spine longer than first, 1.6-2.3 times length of 1st spine that overhangs fin apex; pectoral fin roughly square; no ridges between pectoral and pelvic fins, no precaudal pits, no keel on tail base; Uniform blackish-brown; no marks on flanks and tail like those found in other members of the genus; light organs sparse and hard to see; all fins with thin transluecent margins |
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Biology |
Reproduction is viviparous and size-at-birth is <17 cm TL. |
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Remarks |
Etmopterus benchleyi is a synonym of E. litvinovi (Agne et al. 2022). |
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Similar Species |
Differs from other Etmopterus species in lacking marks on the flanks found in other members of the genus. |
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Etymology |
The species is named in honour of Russian ichthyologist Fedor Fedorovich Litvinov, who helped collect the type specimen aboard the RV Professor Schtockman. |
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Species Citation |
Etmopterus litvinovi Parin & Kotlyar in Kotlyar 1990 Trudy Instituta Okeanologii Imeni P.P. Shirshova 125: 141, Fig. 7. Type locality: 25°53'S, 84°34'W, southeastern Pacific, depth 1030-1050 m. |
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Author |
Bray, D.J. 2025 |
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Resources |
Smalleye Lanternshark, Etmopterus litvinovi Parin & Kotlyar 1990
References
Agne, S., Naylor, G.J.P., Preick, M., Yang, L., et al. 2022. Taxonomic Identification of two poorly known lantern shark species based on mitochondrial DNA from wet-collection paratypes. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 10: 910009. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2022.910009
Ebert, D.A., Concha, F., Herman, K. & Kyne, P.M. 2020. Etmopterus litvinovi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T63159A124463835. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T63159A124463835.en. Accessed on 06 July 2023.
Parin, N.V. & Kotlyar, A.N. 1990, in Kotlyar, A.N. Dogfish sharks of the genus Etmopterus Rafinesque from the Nazca and Sala y Gómez submarine ridges. Trudy Instituta Okeanologii Imeni P.P. Shirshova 125: 127-147 (in Russian, English summary)
Last, P. R., Burgess, G.H. & Séret, B. 2002. Description of six new species of lantern-sharks of the genus Etmopterus (Squaloidea: Etmopteridae) from the Australasian region. Cybium 26(3): 203-223 https://doi.org/10.26028/cybium/2002-263-006
Vásquez, V.E., Ebert, D.A. & Long, D.J. 2015. Etmopterus benchleyi n. sp., a new lanternshark (Squaliformes: Etmopteridae) from the central eastern Pacific Ocean. Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation 17: 43-55. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1051834 (described as Etmopterus benchleyi, type locality Costa Rica)
