Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles
available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. The velvet belly
lantern shark (or simply velvet belly, Etmopterus spinax) is a species
of dogfish shark in the family Etmopteridae. One of the most common
deepwater sharks in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, the velvet belly is
found from Iceland and Norway to Gabon and South Africa at a depth of
70-2,490 m (230-8,170 ft). A small shark generally no more than 45 cm
(18 in) long, the velvet belly is so named because its black underside
is abruptly distinct from the brown coloration on the rest of its body.
The body of this species is fairly stout, with a moderately long snout
and tail, and very small gill slits.
