Great Lanternshark

Overview

A deep-sea dogfish shark that produces bioluminescence through photophores along its belly, likely for counter-illumination and communication. Found in the deep North Atlantic. Rarely encountered.

Habitat

These sharks frequent the continental slopes, on or near the bottom from 1148.3 to7260.5 ft [350 to 2213 m] deep. On the north Atlantic lower rise, they are found from 12303.1 to 14763.8 ft [3750-4500 m].

Distribution

Northwest Atlantic from Nova Scotia to New Jersey. In the northeast Atlantic, they are found between Greenland and Iceland to the northwest of Africa and Azores. Their nominal range in the south Atlantic and western Pacific is uncertain.