Etmopterus pusillus (Lowe, 1839)

Smooth Lanternshark

Acanthidium pusillum Lowe, 1839: 91 . Syntypes: BMNH 1855.11.29.27 (2 specimens). Type locality: Madeira, eastern Atlantic .

Local synonymy: Etmopterus pusillus: Bass et al., 1976: 23, fig. 16 (KZN); Compagno, 1984: 82, fig.; Bass et al., 1986: 56, fig. 5.14; Compagno et al., 1989: 30, pl.; Compagno et al., 1991: 64; Ebert et al., 1992: 605; Compagno, 1999: 115; Compagno et al., 2005: 107, fig., pl. 7; Ebert, 2013: 83, fig. 105; Ebert et al., 2013 a: 137, fig., pl. 9; Ebert & Mostada, 2013: 30, fig.; Ebert, 2015: 80, fig. 93; Ebert & Mostada, 2015: 27, fig.; Ebert & van Hees, 2015: 144; Compagno, 2016: 1188; Weigmann, 2016: 897.

South Africa voucher material: SAIAB 6182 [former ORI 1104], SAIAB 6183 [former ORI 1477], SAIAB 6184 [former ORI 2866], SAIAB 6185 [former ORI 2867], SAIAB 6186 [former ORI 2868], SAIAB 6187 [former ORI 2869].

South Africa distribution: West coast from the Orange River (NC) to Cape Point (WC) and off KZN, but not yet confirmed from the EC.

Remarks: Widespread, but patchy off South Africa, this species is often misidentified with E. bigelowi .

Conservation status: LC (2020).