Morphology Data of Etmopterus viator
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Straube, N., G. Duhamel, N. Gasco, J. Kriwet and U.K. Schliewen, 2011
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance
Different colors
Remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral elongated
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Type of scales placoid scales
Diagnosis

A medium-sized Etmopterus species with the following combination of characters: body fusiform, caudal peduncle short 0.1 (0.09-0.1) % of total length (TL). Moderately long interdorsal distance 0.19 (0.17-0.24) % TL, very long distance from first dorsal fin spine insertion to snout tip 0.36 (0.36-0.43)% TL. Head long 0.21 (0.21-0.26) % TL and broad 0.1 (0.1-0.15) % TL long, as long as caudal peduncle. Snout short 0.41 (0.40-0.46) % head length (HL) and broad 0.37 (0.34-0.38) % HL. Interorbital distance narrow 0.28 (0.26-0.36) % HL, shorter than snout width. Large oval eyes, eye length 0.26 (0.19-0.26) % HL. Eyes reflect greenish in fresh specimens. Large tear-drop shaped spiracles 0.05 (0.03-0.08) % HL. Mouth strongly arched and broad 0.4 (0.11-0.43) % HL with dignathic homodont dentition . Nostrils large and oblique 0.11 (0.11-0.15) % HL. Gill openings with distinct white margins. Pectoral fins rounded and white-edged with fringed ceratotrichia, moderate in size. Inner margin 0.04 (0.04-0.06) % TL, fin base short 0.05 (0.03-0.06) % TL. Dorsal fins densely covered with dermal denticles, 2nd dorsal fin significantly larger than 1st dorsal fin, height 0.09 (0.10-0.15) % TL compared to 0.03 (0.03-0.05) % TL in 1st dorsal fin. 2nd dorsal fin deeply concave with drawn-out lower lobe. Both dorsal fins fringed, with strong fin spines. The 2nd dorsal fin spine is larger than 1st (broken in the holotype) pointing posteriorly. First dorsal fin originate distinctively behind the pectoral fin insertions, whereas origin of 2nd dorsal fin only sligthly behind pelvic fin insertions. Large heterocercal caudal fin 0.2 (0.19-0.21) % TL with strong upper and weaker lower edged lobes, widely covered with dermal denticles (Ref. 87779).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Etmopterus viator

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total 75 - 84

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total
Soft-rays total
Adipose fin

Caudal fin

Attributes

Anal fin(s)

Fins number
Spines total
Soft-rays total

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Pelvics Attributes  
Position    
Spines     
Soft-rays   
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