Shining a Light on an (Already Glowing) Deep-Sea Marvel
The velvet belly lantern shark is a deep-sea marvel, often found between 200 to 800 meters below the ocean’s surface. Its dark, velvety skin is adorned with photophores—tiny light-emitting organs that create a mesmerizing glow. This bioluminescence helps the lantern shark camouflage, communicate, and attract prey.
As a carnivorous member of the Etmopteridae family, the lantern shark feasts on smaller fish and invertebrates. Rarely encountered by humans, the lantern shark remains a mysterious and captivating creature of the deep.
Velvet Belly Lantern Shark At-A-Glance
Scientific Name: Etmopterus spinax
How big are lantern sharks? Lantern sharks are small and usually only grow to be about 18 inches, or 45 centimeters long. Even as adults, they only weigh around 1 pound, or 0.45 kilograms.
Where do lantern sharks live? This species is known to live along the Norwegian coast in deep fjords, otherwise known as narrow deep seas. They can live anywhere between 230-6,560 feet, or 70-2000 meters, deep, but are most commonly seen at depths of 656-1640 feet, or 200-500 meters.
What do lantern sharks eat? As young sharks, they primarily feed on krill and small bony fish. As they grow older, however, their diet becomes more varied and they eat crustaceans (like crayfish), cephalopods (like squid), and bony fish.
How do lantern sharks reproduce? These sharks give birth to live young and will have litters of 6-20 pups every 2-3 years. Reproductive season for these sharks usually occurs in the summer or winter, and the pups take about a year to develop inside the uterus.
How long can lantern sharks live for? The lantern shark can live up to 11 years and reaches sexual maturity around 5-6 years of age.
What is the IUCN conservation status?Vulnerable. They are subject to many of the common threats facing sharks.
Are there any protections on the lantern shark? There are not currently any protections on this species of shark. Information on current laws and loopholes regarding sharks can be always be found on the Shark Angels site.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lantern Sharks:
What are the different types of lantern sharks?
There are more than 50 species of lantern sharks. The most common ones include the dwarf lantern shark, lantern shark, New Zealand lantern shark, and blackbelly lantern shark.
How do lantern sharks glow?
Lantern sharks glow on their underside using light-producing organs known as photophores. These photophores help light up their sides, fin, and bellies. Photophores contain a molecule called luciferin, which produces light when it reacts with oxygen.
Learn more about bioluminescence here!
How do lantern sharks hunt?
Scientists aren’t sure but they are pretty certain that lantern sharks use their bioluminescent ability to attract their prey.
Ready to Dive In?
The only location you would really be able to dive with this shark is in the deep fjords of Norway. However, they are also known to live from Iceland to South Africa, and in the Mediterranean Sea. Since these sharks live so deep, they could only be seen using a submersible.
Bet you didn’t know this about the Velvet Belly Lantern Shark….
- These sharks can perform bioluminescence, helping them camouflage from predators and prey.
- The lantern shark is the smallest shark in Norway.
- These sharks got their name because their black undersides are so distinct from the brown coloration of the rest of their body.
- Lantern sharks often have a heavy parasite load, consisting of parasites that attach themselves to the fins of the shark to feed on their blood and tissue.
- Lantern sharks are non-threatening to humans.
Science In The Spotlight
Chilly Waters, Big Surprises: Study Unveils Growth Secrets of Iceland’s Velvet Belly Lantern sharks
A fascinating study by H. Mattina and his team explored the environment and habits of the velvet belly lanternshark (Etmopterus spinax) in the waters around Iceland. These deep-sea sharks love to hang out in chilly waters with temperatures between 42.8-46.4°F (6-8°C). The study also uncovered an interesting fact: female velvet belly lantern sharks grow bigger than males before they mature.
This research is super important because our oceans are warming up, and fishing practices are affecting marine life. Understanding where these mysterious sharks live is crucial for reducing bycatch (accidentally catching them in fishing nets) and helping with conservation efforts. With the oceans getting warmer, these sharks’ survival could be at risk, making this study more important than eve
After Bites Lantern Shark Quiz
Take the lantern shark trivia quiz and test your new found knowledge.
Written by Greer Jessie, college student at University of Florida majoring in biology with an anthropology minor and a Shark Angels intern