Author: Gilbert, 1905
Diagnostic Features:
A stout-bodied lanternshark with a short tail, distance from pelvic insertions to ventral caudal origin about as long as from tip of snout to spiracles, slightly less than 1.5 times in distance between pectoral and pelvic bases, and about 0.8 of interdorsal space; distance between pectoral and pelvic bases short in holotype, about equal to prebranchial length; distance from snout tip to first dorsal spine almost equal to distance from first dorsal spine to upper caudal origin. Head width about 1.2 times preoral snout; prespiracular length 1.5 times distance from spiracles to pectoral origins; gill openings moderately long, wider than spiracle, but about 1/4 eye length; upper teeth with less than 3 pairs of cusplets. Origin of first dorsal fin over inner margins of pectoral fins, dorsal fin base much closer to pectoral bases than pelvics; interdorsal space short, slightly less than prespiracular length; second dorsal fin much larger than first, somewhat less than twice its area; distance between second dorsal base and upper caudal origin about 1.2 in interdorsal space; caudal fin fairly short and broad, length of dorsal caudal margin about equal to distance from snout tip to first gill slits. Lateral trunk denticles with slender, hooked conical crowns, wide-spaced and arranged in regular longitudinal rows on rear of trunk and tail: snout covered with denticles; no rows of greatly enlarged denticles on flanks above pectoral fins. Distal margins of fins largely covered with skin, not fringed with naked ceratotrichia. Colour dark brown or blackish above and below, with underside of snout, mouth and abdomen somewhat darker, with an indistinct black mark running above pelvic fins.
Geographical Distribution:
Central Pacific: Hawaiian Islands (Molokai).
Habitat and Biology:
A poorly-known lanternshark from the insular slopes of the Hawaiian Islands, on or near bottom at 406 to 911 m.
Size:
The holotype is immature at 17 cm; other specimens have been collected, with a maximum total length of at least 46 cm for adults.
Interest to Fisheries:
None at present.
Remarks:
Illustration and account based on the holotype.
Type material:
Holotype: U.S. National Museum of Natural History, USNM 51583, 170 mm immature male. Type Locality: Hawaiian Islands, off south coast of Molokai, 406 to 911 m.