A new shark species has been recorded in Peru's sea. It is the small-eyed lanternshark (Etmopterus litvinovi), a deep-sea species that inhabits ocean zones where sunlight does not reach, the
According to the agency, the study also made it possible to record for the first time in Peruvian waters its parasite, the barnacle Anelasma squalicola, an organism that lives attached to deep-sea sharks' bodies and obtains nutrients directly from its host.
How was this shark species discovered?
Imarpe explained that the finding was based on the analysis of three specimens from waters in southern Peru, off Ilo (Moquegua region) and Arequipa region.
The specimens were obtained as incidental catch in deep-sea fisheries, at depths of approximately 1,400 to 1,450 meters.
The specimens are housed in the ichthyological collection of Imarpe and at the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle in France, which made it possible to conduct detailed taxonomic comparisons.
Imarpe said its record in Peruvian waters significantly expands its distribution range in the southeastern Pacific and provides new information on the diversity of sharks inhabiting the deep ocean.
During the analysis, the research team observed that all sharks examined showed infestation by Anelasma squalicola, constituting the first confirmed record of this parasitic cirriped in Peru.
The research also confirmed that the species Etmopterus benchleyi is a valid synonym of Etmopterus litvinovi, helping to clarify the taxonomy of these deep-sea sharks.
Imarpe emphasized that the study helps expand knowledge of Peru's deep-sea sharks—a still little-studied group—and strengthens the scientific information base on the biodiversity of cartilaginous fish in Peruvian waters.
Similarly, it stressed the importance of scientific monitoring of incidental catch in deep-sea fisheries as a key source of information for the research and conservation of these species.
Moreover, it underscored the value of scientific collections as essential tools for the study, documentation, and preservation of marine biodiversity.
The study was led by Fabiola Zavalaga of Imarpe. It was conducted in collaboration with Ignacio Contreras of the Universidad de Chile, Luis Ñacari of the Universidad de Antofagasta, and Philippe Béarez of the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle in Paris, France.