Etmopteridae

Dwarf lanternshark

Etmopterus perryi

A tiny compact body crosses Caribbean depths

• Regional distribution
• Marine fish
• Atlantic Ocean
• South America
• Elongated
• Medium

The dwarf lanternshark (Etmopterus perryi) is a species of dogfish shark in the family Etmopteridae and is the smallest shark in the world, reaching a maximum known length of 20 cm (8 in). It is known to be present only on the upper continental slopes off Colombia and Venezuela, at a depth of 283–439 m (928–1,440 ft). This species can be identified by its small size at maturity, long flattened head, and pattern of black ventral markings and a mid-dorsal line.