Etmopterus lailae is a member of the Lanternshark family, which was serendipitously found 1,000 feet below the Pacific Ocean off the coast of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
New Miniature Shark Species Glows In the Dark
In addition to being bioluminescent, the deep-sea dweller is recognizable by its exceptionally large nose.
Weighing in at only two pounds and measuring less than a foot long is one of the most unique new shark species to be recently identified by scientists.
While the shark can be easily recognized by its huge nose leading into its small body, the most defining characteristic of this species may be that it glows in the dark.
Deemed Etmopterus lailae by scientists, the shark belongs to the lanternshark family and was found nearly 1,000 feet below the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Hawaii's northwestern islands.
Stephen M. Kajiura, a professor at Florida Atlantic University, was one of the researchers who worked to identify the shark when it was discovered almost 17 years ago.
“There are only about 450 known species of
