Post by Ceratodromeus on Dec 24, 2015 6:47:13 GMT 5
Ninja lanternshark - Etmopterus benchleyi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Order: Squaliformes
Family: Etmopteridae
Genus: Etmopterus
Species: E.benchleyi
This recent discovery(whose species name is dedicated to Jaws author Peter Benchley) was made off the coast of Central America, where the species was collected from a depth of 800-1400m. It possesses many of the characteristics of lantern sharks, bein diminutive in overall size, with large eyes, but is distinguished from other members of the Etmopterus genus(aside from being the only lanternshark species known from this area) by its coloration and bodily proportions. The holotype animal(USNM 423195) is an adult female measuring 57mm in snout-vent length(458mm total length). The four paratypes(two immature animals, and an adult of both sexes) for the species range from 290-518mm in total length.{1}
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{1}Etmopterus benchleyi n. sp., a new lanternshark (Squaliformes: Etmopteridae) from the central eastern Pacific Ocean
Abstract
A new species of lanternshark, Etmopterus benchleyi n. sp., is described from eight specimens collected off the Pacific coast of Central America at depths ranging between 836 and 1443 meters. The new species is placed in the Etmopterus spinax clade by a lack of flank markings and the moderately short, slender, hook-like, conical dermal denticles distributed over the body. It can be distinguished from its closest congeners based on a combination of coloration, proportional body measurements, meristic counts, arrangement of dermal denticles, and size at maturity. The dorsal fins of the new species are either similar in size or the second dorsal fin is slightly larger than the first vs. the second dorsal fin distinctly larger than the first in E. granulosus, E. princeps, and E. litvinovi.
link to paper
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Order: Squaliformes
Family: Etmopteridae
Genus: Etmopterus
Species: E.benchleyi
This recent discovery(whose species name is dedicated to Jaws author Peter Benchley) was made off the coast of Central America, where the species was collected from a depth of 800-1400m. It possesses many of the characteristics of lantern sharks, bein diminutive in overall size, with large eyes, but is distinguished from other members of the Etmopterus genus(aside from being the only lanternshark species known from this area) by its coloration and bodily proportions. The holotype animal(USNM 423195) is an adult female measuring 57mm in snout-vent length(458mm total length). The four paratypes(two immature animals, and an adult of both sexes) for the species range from 290-518mm in total length.{1}
----
{1}Etmopterus benchleyi n. sp., a new lanternshark (Squaliformes: Etmopteridae) from the central eastern Pacific Ocean
Abstract
A new species of lanternshark, Etmopterus benchleyi n. sp., is described from eight specimens collected off the Pacific coast of Central America at depths ranging between 836 and 1443 meters. The new species is placed in the Etmopterus spinax clade by a lack of flank markings and the moderately short, slender, hook-like, conical dermal denticles distributed over the body. It can be distinguished from its closest congeners based on a combination of coloration, proportional body measurements, meristic counts, arrangement of dermal denticles, and size at maturity. The dorsal fins of the new species are either similar in size or the second dorsal fin is slightly larger than the first vs. the second dorsal fin distinctly larger than the first in E. granulosus, E. princeps, and E. litvinovi.
link to paper
