Sculpted Lanternshark

Etmopterus sculptus is a moderately large, stout, species of linear-denticled Etmopterus, which separates it from most other members of this genus, and can be distinguished from its three closest congeners within the E. Lucifer-group, E. brachyurus, E. lucifer, and E. molleri, by the length of its anterior flank markings being slightly longer than its posterior branch. The posterior branch of the flank markings on E. brachyurus and E. molleri are shorter relative to the anterior branch, and in E. lucifer, the anterior branch is nearly twice the length of the posterior branch. The new species can also be distinguished from its closest congeners by the arrangement of dermal denticles that extend over most of the upper and lower body surface. Etmopterus sculptus possesses non-overlapping denticles, giving it a rougher, more sculpted texture than these other aforementioned species. The arrangement of the dermal denticles onthe ventral head surface is also a good character for separating these species, with E. sculptus having uniformly distributed denticles while the ventral surface of E. Lucifer and E. molleri is sparsely covered with denticles. The ventral surface of the head of E. brachyurus typically lacks dermal denticles (Ref. 87957).

Bears 2 young (Ref. 5578). Distinct pairing with embrace (Ref. 205).

This species is fairly common along the upper continental slopes between Namibia and southern Mozambique (Ref. 87957); upper slope, on or near the bottom (Ref. 5578). Observed mostly at depths between 450 and 900 m (Ref. 27644), but with records as shallow as 240 m (in Bass et al., 1976: listed as E. lucifer) (Ref. 87957). Feeds mainly on mid-water bony fish, also squid, octopus, shrimp and brittle stars (Ref. 5578).

The sculpted lanternshark (Etmopterus sculptus) is a shark of the family Etmopteridae found from the Southeast Atlantic and Southwest Indian Ocean, specifically from Namibia to southern Mozambique and the Madagascar Ridge. Etmopterus sculptus is a moderately large species of Etmopterus.