Smallest Type of Shark

The smallest shark in the world is known as the Dwarf Lantern shark, or Etmopterus perryi. According to the Smithsonian Institute, the Dwarf Lantern shark was originally discovered in 1985 off of the Caribbean coast of Columbia. At a length that is smaller than the human hand, the Dwarf Lantern shark does not grow more than 21 centimeters.

  1. Physical Description

    • The Dwarf Lantern shark is described as having a flattened head, including the snout. The body coloring ranges from light to medium-light colors, but is characterized by dark spots or streaks that give it a light and dark contrast. The shape of the body is slender and long in proportion to its fins, which are large for the shark's body size. Razor-sharp teeth exist in the small mouth of the shark, and eyes are set proportionally on both sides of the snout.

    Size

    • The size of the Dwarf Lantern shark is between 16 and 21 centimeters. Males mature to an approximate total length of 16 or 17.5 centimeters, while female adult Dwarf Lantern sharks average around 15.5 centimeters. Gravid female Dwarf Lantern sharks can grow to 19 or 20 centimeters in total length. When born, the sharks are between 5 and 6 centimeters long.

    Environment

    • Dwarf Lantern sharks are found in deep waters, with a marine depth range of 283 to 439 meters. Waters here are dark, which provide some protection from predators. The geographic location of these sharks is off the coast of Columbia and Venezuela, in the Caribbean Sea.

    Threats

    • Natural predators of the sea, such as large fish, squid and other marine animals that dwell in the deep waters, pose threats to these small sharks. Fisheries off the coast of Columbia and Venezuela are not a known threat to the Dwarf Lantern shark because their small size does not have a lot of use for fishermen.