Etmopterus sentosus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	CHONDRICHTHYES	SQUALIFORMES	ETMOPTERIDAE

Scientific Name:

Etmopterus sentosus

Species Authority

Bass, d’Aubrey & Kistnasamy, 1976

Common Name/s:

English	–	Thorny Lanternshark
French	–	Sagre Épineux
Spanish	–	Tollo Lucerno Espinudo

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Least Concern ver 3.1
Year Assessed:	2006
Assessor/s	Burgess, G.H.
Evaluator/s:	Cavanagh, R.D., Human, B., Heupel, M.R. & Simpfendorfer, C.A. (Shark Red List Authority)
Justification: Etmopterus sentosus is a small (27 cm total length), deepwater (200 to 500 m) species endemic to the southwestern Indian Ocean (off the east coast of South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Kenya and Tanzania). Biology is essentially unknown. This species is subject to limited bycatch fishing mortality off South Africa and the situation is assumed to be similar throughout the rest of its range. Thus it is assumed to be of Least Concern at the present time, although like many deepwater chondrichthyan species, more information on biology, ecology and importance in fisheries are required. Any expanding deepwater fisheries in the region need to be carefully monitored and managed.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Endemic to southwestern Indian Ocean: east coast of Natal, Mozambique, Madagascar, Kenya and Tanzania. It has been reported as relatively common off Mozambique.
Countries:	Native: Kenya; Madagascar; Mozambique; South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal); Tanzania, United Republic of
FAO Marine Fishing Areas:	Native: Indian Ocean – western

Population [top]

Population:	No knowledge of population size or structure; limited range suggests single population (no subpopulations).
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Inhabits upper continental slope in depths of 200 to 500 m, on or near bottom. Little life history information currently available. Maximum length unknown. Size at birth unknown but a near term fetus reported 5.7 cm. Immature males recorded at 22 to 27 cm and adults at 22 to 27 cm. Immature females recorded at 22 to 26 cm and adult at 25 to 27 cm. Life history parameters Age at maturity (years): Unknown. Size at maturity (total length): Female: 25 to 27 cm; Male: 22 to 27 cm. Longevity (years): Unknown. Maximum size (total length): 27 cm or longer. Size at birth: >5.7 cm. Average reproductive age (years): Unknown. Gestation time (months): Unknown. Reproductive periodicity: Unknown. Average annual fecundity or litter size: Unknown. Annual rate of population increase: Unknown. Natural mortality: Unknown.
Systems:	Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

Inhabits upper continental slope in depths of 200 to 500 m, on or near bottom. Little life history information currently available. Maximum length unknown. Size at birth unknown but a near term fetus reported 5.7 cm. Immature males recorded at 22 to 27 cm and adults at 22 to 27 cm. Immature females recorded at 22 to 26 cm and adult at 25 to 27 cm.

Life history parameters
Age at maturity (years): Unknown.
Size at maturity (total length): Female: 25 to 27 cm; Male: 22 to 27 cm.
Longevity (years): Unknown.
Maximum size (total length): 27 cm or longer.
Size at birth: >5.7 cm.
Average reproductive age (years): Unknown.
Gestation time (months): Unknown.
Reproductive periodicity: Unknown.
Average annual fecundity or litter size: Unknown.
Annual rate of population increase: Unknown.
Natural mortality: Unknown.

Systems:

Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Of no importance for fisheries because of its small size. No apparent threats, some deepwater fishing mortality from bycatch but this is known to be limited off South Africa and the situation is assumed to be similar throughout the rest of its range although further study is required. Utilisation None known, probably discarded (probably too small to be utilised).

Major Threat(s):

Of no importance for fisheries because of its small size. No apparent threats, some deepwater fishing mortality from bycatch but this is known to be limited off South Africa and the situation is assumed to be similar throughout the rest of its range although further study is required.

Utilisation
None known, probably discarded (probably too small to be utilised).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	None in place. Like many deepwater chondrichthyan species more information on biology, ecology and importance in fisheries are required. Any expanding deepwater fisheries in the region (which could impact its habitat and population) need to be carefully monitored and managed.

Conservation Actions:

None in place. Like many deepwater chondrichthyan species more information on biology, ecology and importance in fisheries are required. Any expanding deepwater fisheries in the region (which could impact its habitat and population) need to be carefully monitored and managed.

Citation:	Burgess, G.H. 2006. Etmopterus sentosus. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 22 November 2008.
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