Etmopterus marshae Ebert & Van Hees, 2018
Marsha’s lanternshark

Family:  Etmopteridae (Lantern sharks)
Max. size:  23.4 cm TL (male/unsexed); 19.2 cm TL (female)
Environment:  pelagic-oceanic; marine; depth range 322 - 337 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: the Philippines.
Diagnosis:  This species is a relatively small, slender, linear-denticled Etmopterus which can be distinguished from its closest congeners within the E. lucifer clade by the following set of characters: length of its luminescent lateral flank marking branches being relatively equal in length (anterior and posterior flank branches about equal in length); differs from the other species with relatively equal branch lengths (E. burgessi, E. evansi, E. pycnolepis) by having a whitish cheek blotch, purplish lateral body colouration sharply becoming black below line between pectoral and pelvic fins, its distinct pattern of paired dashes along the upper body and between pectoral and pelvic fins and the dark and light banding pattern on its caudal fin, and the central and upper caudal marking lengths distinctly different from the other 3 closely related species (Ref. 119149).
Biology:  Occurs on sandy bottom. A 21.3 cm TL male was found to be maturing; birth size uncertain with 3 smallest individuals (9.7-11.6 cm TL) and the smallest with scar slightly open suggesting closeness to birth size (Ref. 119149).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 22 November 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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