Flexi Says: The dwarf lantern shark (Etmopterus perryi) is the smallest known shark species. Adults are about the size of your hand! The dwarf lantern shark is rare and not well-known. It lives in very deep waters of the Caribbean sea off the northern coast of South America. Like other lantern sharks, the dwarf lantern shark has organs called photophores that emit light. The photophores are found along the belly and undersides of the fins and are an adaptation for hunting. In shallow water, the lights help camouflage the sharks from their prey, as the lighted underside of the shark blends in with sunlight from above. In darker water, the light attracts prey animals.
