Etmopteridae

Elasmobranch, Its Implications For Global, Parasitology, Diversity And, Naylor, G. J. P., Sc, Caira, J. N., Ct, Jensen, K., Ks, Rosana, K. A. M., Fl, White, W. T., Csiro, Tas, Last, P. R., Csiro & Tas, 2012, A Dna Sequence-Based Approach To The Identification Of Shark And Ray Species And Its Implications For Global Elasmobranch Diversity And Parasitology, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2012 (367), pp. 1-262 : 63-65

Etmopteridae (lantern sharks)

Etmopterus spinax (velvet belly) ( fig. 46)

All but one of the 21 specimens of this species included in the analysis were collected from the Azores; the remaining specimen came from Scotland. Thus, our sample represents only some of the more northern elements of the distribution of this species, which occurs throughout the eastern Atlantic from Norway to Gabon. The analysis yielded essentially a single cluster. The range in pairwise differences among specimens in this cluster was 0–8, with an average of pairwise differences of 2.5 .

Etmopterus princeps (great lanternshark) ( fig. 46)

The seven specimens of this species included in the analysis were collected from throughout much of the distribution of this species, consisting of Connecticut in the western North Atlantic, Madeira, and the eastern North Atlantic. The two specimens from Madeira were deposited in the Museu de História Natural e Aquário in Funchal (GN6608 5 MMF 36093 and GN6611 5 MMF 36103). The analysis yielded essentially a single cluster. The range in pairwise differences among specimens within this cluster was 0–6, with an average of 3.4.

Etmopterus cf. unicolor complex ( fig. 46)

Four specimens originally identified as Etmopterus unicolor were included in the analysis. Two of these were collected by Peter Smith from New Zealand. The other two specimens are from the Australian National Fish Collection (GN4952 5 ANFC H 5673-02 and GN4954 5 ANFC H 5674- 08), both of which were collected from the eastern Indian Ocean. These four specimens grouped together but in two distinct clusters, one consisting of the specimens from New Zealand, the other of specimens from the eastern Indian Ocean. The specimens from New Zealand differed from one another by base; those in the latter cluster differed from one another by seven bases. The average of the pairwise differences between specimens in these two clusters was 14. Given the type locality of this species is Japan, a locality not represented by our specimens, we have referred to the specimens from New Zealand as E. cf. unicolor 1 and those from the eastern Indian Ocean as E. cf. unicolor 2. However, some consideration should be given to the specimens in the first of these clusters being conspecific with the newly described Etmopterus viator of Straube et al. (2011). The second cluster could represent one of the many species of this genus not nominally represented in the analysis.

Etmopterus baxteri ( New Zealand lanternshark)

( fig. 46)

In total, 11 specimens of this possibly southern global species, all from New Zealand, were included in the analysis, which yielded a single cluster. Ten of the specimens were almost identical in sequence, but one of the specimens differed from the remaining nine by seven or eight bases. The average of pairwise differences among the 11 specimens was 1.5.

Etmopterus virens (green lanternshark) ( fig. 46)

A single specimen of this species, collected from the western North Atlantic, was includ- ed in the analysis.

Etmopterus gracilispinis (broadband lanternshark)

( fig. 46)

A single specimen of this species, collected from the western North Atlantic was includ- ed in the analysis. This specimen clustered with the specimen of E. virens . However, the difference between the specimens of these two species was 126.

Etmopterus pusillus (smooth lanternshark) ( fig. 46)

The analysis included 20 specimens of this species. These were collected from a diversity of localities in the eastern North Atlantic, including the Azores, Madeira, and the coast of mainland Portugal, as well as from New South Wales in Australia. However, given the extent of the reported distribution of this species, these localities represent only a small portion of its patchy global distribution. Three specimens from Portugal (GN6603 5 MMF 36075, GN6620 5 MMF 36530, and GN6624 5 MMF 36740), and one from Australia (GN4951 5 ANFC H 5956-01) were vouchered. The analysis yielded essentially a single cluster. The range in pairwise differences among these specimens was 0–11, with an average of 3.5.

Etmopterus bigelowi (blurred smooth lanternshark)

( fig. 46)

The four specimens of this species included in the analysis represent only a very small portion of the patchy global distribution of this species, having come from the Gulf of Mexico and the mid-Atlantic Ocean. The analysis yielded a single cluster and the range in pairwise differences among specimens in this cluster was 0–2, with an average of 1.

Etmopterus splendidus (splendid lanternshark)

( fig. 46)

Both samples of this species included in the analysis were collected from Taiwan, from specimens deposited in the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology (GN994 and GN995 5 UMMZ 231969). These specimens differed from one another by two bases. They clustered together, most closely allied with the E. pusillus and E. bigelowi clusters. The average of the pairwise differences between E. splendidus and E. pusillus was 128.1 and between E. splendidus and E. bigelowi was 105.5.

Etmopterus lucifer (blackbelly lanternshark) ( fig. 46)

All 10 specimens of this species were collected from the eastern portions of the relatively extensive, but poorly defined, distribution of this species, having come from New South Wales in Australia and also from New Zealand. The analysis yielded a single cluster. The range in pairwise differences among these specimens was 0–6, with an average of 2.

Etmopterus molleri (slendertail lanternshark) ( fig. 46)

The four specimens of this species included in the analysis were collected from Taiwan and thus represent only a very small portion of the distribution of a possible species complex (G. Burgess, personal commun.). All four specimens are deposited in the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology (GN996, GN997, GN998, and GN999 5 UMMZ 231971). The analysis yielded a single cluster. The range in pairwise differences among these specimens was 0–6, with an average of 3. These specimens clustered most closely with those of E. lucifer , with an average of the pairwise differences among specimens of these two species was 110.5. However, given that E. burgessi is also known from Taiwan (Schaaf-DaSilva and Ebert, 2006) and was not included in our analysis, the identity of the E. molleri cluster should be confirmed by careful comparison of the deposited specimens with verified specimens of E. burgessi .

Centroscyllium fabricii (black dogfish) ( fig. 46)

The 10 specimens of this species included here represent the North Atlantic elements of the distribution of this Atlantic species having come from Connecticut , the Azores , and Scotland. The southern Atlantic elements of the distribution were not represented. The analysis yielded a single cluster ; the range of pairwise differences among specimens in this cluster was 0–8, with an average of 3.6.