Kategorie: News
Etmopterus bulbosus: New Deep-Sea Shark Species
Off the coast of Mauritius in the southwestern Indian Ocean, researchers have described a previously unknown shark species: the lantern shark Etmopterus bulbosus. Its name refers to its strikingly bulging snout. The initial description was published on August 12, 2026, in the Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation. Contributors included David Ebert, Richard Leslie, and Sergey Bogorodsky.
To date, only a single specimen of this species is known. It was caught at a depth of 400 to 500 meters using a trawl net. The specimen is a female measuring 21.5 centimeters in length. Its coloration is predominantly brown-black, with a faint violet sheen, according to IFLScience, which faded after capture.
The researchers classify the species as belonging to the so-called Etmopterus pusillus group. In addition to its bulbous snout, it is notable for enlarged, spine-like dermal denticles behind the pectoral fin axis. Genetic analyses support its distinctiveness: In the COI gene, the species differs by at least 10.29 percent from its closest relatives. The similar Etmopterus sentosus does not have such a snout.
A world record?
Some media outlets are presenting the discovery as a possible world record for the world’s smallest shark. This should be taken with a grain of salt. The smallest known shark is the pygmy lanternshark (Etmopterus perryi), which, according to IFLScience, reaches about 21.2 centimeters. The specimen from Mauritius measures 21.5 centimeters and would thus be even a fraction larger. Furthermore, based on a single specimen, it is impossible to draw conclusions about the species’ typical adult size. Whether E. bulbosus ranks among the smallest sharks remains to be seen with further discoveries.
Many species in the genus Etmopterus can produce light on their own. This is made possible by tiny light-emitting organs in the skin called photophores. The organs on the underside emit a faint, greenish glow. This camouflages the animals from below against the brighter water above, making their outline less distinct. Other functions are also being discussed: attracting prey, communicating with conspecifics, or confusing predators. Whether Etmopterus bulbosus also glows is not documented in the sources reviewed.
A new lantern shark has also been discovered off the coast of Western Australia
Mauritius is not the only site where it has been found. In the Gascoyne Marine Park off the coast of Western Australia, researchers from the Australian scientific agency CSIRO described Etmopterus westraliensis, the West Australian lantern shark. It was discovered during biodiversity surveys at depths of up to about 610 meters; the largest known specimen measures 40.7 centimeters. The description was published as early as September 2025, and the CSIRO’s announcement followed on October 6, 2025. It is therefore a year older and not a contemporaneous discovery, as some media outlets have reported.
Why the Deep Sea Still Holds Surprises
Lanternsharks are the most species-rich group among deep-sea sharks; according to IFLScience, the genus Etmopterus comprises 43 known species. They mostly live in dark depths, which is why many species are only discovered through accidental catches.
For divers, however, this shark remains out of reach, as depths of 400 to 500 meters lie far beyond any practical limit. This discovery demonstrates once again how little is known about life in the deeper layers of the oceans—and why deep-sea research is so important for understanding the seas.
Further information:
Ebert et al.: Etmopterus bulbosus, a new lanternshark from Mauritius (Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation 47: 8–23)
IFLScience: New species of teeny tiny lanternshark
CSIRO: New species of shark and crab (6. Oktober 2025)