Blackmouth lanternshark facts for kids
The blackmouth lanternshark is a small, deep-sea shark. It belongs to a group of sharks called dogfish sharks. This special shark lives deep down in the ocean, in places like the Eastern Indian Ocean and the Arafura Sea. Scientists first officially described this shark in 2002. There is still a lot to learn about it!
Quick facts for kids Blackmouth lanternshark |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Etmopterus
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| Species: |
evansi
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| Range of the blackmouth lanternshark (in blue) | |
Contents
What's in a Name?
The blackmouth lanternshark is part of a shark group called Etmopterus. Another shark in this group is the lined lanternshark. The name Etmopterus comes from ancient Greek words. "Ethmos" means part of the shark's skull. "Pteron" means fins.
The second part of its name, evansi, honors a scientist. David Evans is an Australian scientist. He has spent many years studying these sharks.
Where Do They Live?
Blackmouth lanternsharks live in the Indian Ocean. You can find them off the northwest coast of Western Australia. They also live in the Arafura Sea, near Indonesia. Some have even been seen near Papua New Guinea.
These sharks live very deep underwater. They are usually found between 430 and 550 meters (about 1,400 to 1,800 feet) below the surface. They like to hang out in deep reefs and underwater hills.
What Do They Look Like?
The blackmouth lanternshark is a small shark. It can grow up to 30 centimeters (about 12 inches) long. That's about the length of a school ruler! Female sharks are usually a bit bigger than males. The longest one ever found was 32 centimeters (about 12.5 inches).
These sharks have a smooth, cylinder-shaped body. Their head and snout are quite short. They have small nostrils and large, narrow eyes. Their mouth is narrow and curved.
Inside their mouth, they have special teeth. The upper jaw has small teeth with five points. The lower jaw has blade-like teeth with one point. These teeth fit together like puzzle pieces.
Blackmouth lanternsharks have two dorsal fins on their back. They also have pectoral, pelvic, and caudal (tail) fins. The first dorsal fin is smaller than the second. Their tail fin is quite short, about the same size as their head.
Their body color is light gray or brown on top. Their belly is much darker. A thin black line separates these two colors. Most of their body is covered in tiny, rough scales called denticles. These denticles are arranged in rows. They also have special glowing spots called melanophores.
What Do They Eat?
Scientists haven't studied the diet of the blackmouth lanternshark much yet. However, other sharks in the Etmopterus group eat different kinds of small sea creatures. They often eat krill, which are tiny shrimp-like animals. They also eat squid, small crabs, and small fish.
How Do They Have Babies?
Blackmouth lanternsharks have a special way of having babies. They are ovoviviparous. This means the eggs hatch inside the mother's body. The baby sharks grow inside her, getting food from a yolk sac. They are born live when they are ready.
It takes a long time for these sharks to have babies. They need two full seasons for one reproductive cycle. One season is for their bodies to get ready. The next season is for the babies to grow. Female sharks in this group can have anywhere from 2 to 20 babies at a time.
Conservation Status
The blackmouth lanternshark is considered a species of "Least Concern." This means scientists don't think it's currently threatened. It lives very deep in the ocean, so human activities don't usually bother it.
