Home
Hagfishes
Chimaeras
Lampreys
Sharks and Rays
Angel sharks
Bramble, Sleeper and Dogfish sharks
Bramble sharks
Dogfish sharks
Gulper sharks
Lantern sharks
Rough sharks
Sleeper sharks
Sleeper sharks
Bullhead and Horn sharks
Carpet sharks
Electric rays
Frill and cow sharks
Ground sharks
Mackerel sharks
Sawfishes
Ray-finned fishes
Lobe-finned fishes
Setting up your tank
DIY Fish Tank Stand
250L community aquarium
Contact Us
Find fish information
Find fish by area
Velvet belly (Etmopterus spinax) fish species and information / pictures of Velvet belly - Etmopterus spinax
Velvet belly (Etmopterus spinax) fish species information
Scientific Name
Etmopterus spinax
Common Name
Velvet belly
Biology
Found on the outer continental shelves and upper slopes. Feeds on small fishes, squids, and crustaceans. Ovoviviparous, with number of young from 6 to 20 in a litter. Utilized for fishmeal and prepared dried salted for human consumption. Depth range reported at 70m-2000m in Ref. 35388.
Classification
Classified By
Linnaeus, 1758
Class
Sharks and Rays (Elasmobranchii)
Order
Bramble, Sleeper and Dogfish sharks (Squaliformes)
Family
Lantern sharks (Etmopteridae)
Distribution
Region
Eastern Atlantic
Distribution
Eastern Atlantic: Iceland, Norway, and the western Mediterranean to Morocco, Senegal, Sierra Leone, C?te d'Ivoire to Nigeria, Cameroon to Gabon, Azores, Cape Verde, and Cape Province, South Africa.
Range
70°N - 38°S, 32°W - 23°E
Environment
Climate
Deep-water
Water Temperature From
Unknown
°C
Water Temperature To
Unknown
°C
Depth From - meters
Unknown
m
Depth To - meters
2490
m
Zone
bathydemersal
Environment
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range ? - 2490 m (Ref. 55744), usually 200 - 500 m
Trophic Level
3.82 s.e. 0.52 Based on diet studies.
Occurs in Marine / Salt water
True
Occurs in Brackish water
False
Occurs in Fresh Water
False
Occurs on Reefs
False
Is kept in Aquariums
False
Physical Size and Genetics
Maximum Length
60.0
cm
Common Length
45.0
cm
Phylogenetic Diversity Index
PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)
Human Uses and Population
Human Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
Vulnerability
Moderate to high vulnerability (47 of 100)
Resilience
Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec=6)
Threat To Humans
Harmless
IUCN Red List Status
Least Concern (LC)