The Dwarf Lanternshark is the smallest shark species in the world, measuring a maximum length of less than 30 cm.
Oceans around the world and some lakes are home to many shark species, ranging from the famous great white shark to hammerhead sharks, bull sharks, and medium-sized sharks, culminating in the smallest shark species: the Dwarf Lanternshark.
Dwarf Lanternshark measuring less than 30 cm – (Photo: Chip Clark).
The Dwarf Lanternshark (Etmopterus perryi) is a rare and elusive species of lanternshark belonging to the genus Etmopterus. They are only known from a few sightings or incidental captures off the coast of South America.
According to IFLScience, the population of Dwarf Lanternsharks inhabits the central western Atlantic Ocean at depths ranging from 283 to 439 meters.
Due to their elusive nature, it was previously believed that this shark species could reach a maximum size of 21.2 cm. However, a study conducted in 2021 successfully captured 153 Dwarf Lanternsharks to investigate their population structure, revealing one individual measuring up to 28.9 cm.
The head of the Dwarf Lanternshark measures about 1/4 to 1/5 of its total body length, and its mouth contains over 60 sharp teeth. This species has very large eyes, which are thought to maximize the minimal light available in the ocean’s dark environment.
They have a dark brown coloration with black markings on their skin. Some of these markings consist of light-producing cells that create bioluminescence to attract smaller prey.
Like other shark species, Dwarf Lanternsharks are ovoviviparous, meaning they give birth to live young after nurturing the eggs within their bodies until hatching, with the newborns measuring just 6 cm in length.
The IUCN Red List classifies the Dwarf Lanternshark as “Least Concern,” the lowest level on the extinction risk scale. However, the most pressing danger to this species is the lack of accurate information about their ecosystem and fishing vessels.
“A 2009 study on trawl nets off the coast of Colombia found that Dwarf Lanternsharks were present in 39% of the trawl catches but accounted for only over 1% of the total number and biomass,” according to the IUCN.
In contrast to the Dwarf Lanternshark, the largest shark species in the world is the whale shark (Rhincodon typus), which can reach lengths of up to 18 m. This species is also the largest filter-feeding animal in the world.
