Neiva, J. Feeding biology of Etmopterus spinax (Chondrichthyes: Etmopteridae) in the coast of Algarve

The velvetbelly lanternshark Etmopterus spinax is a small deepwater shark frequently caught in several commercial fisheries operating along the continental slope off Algarve. In the present study its diet was investigated trough the analysis of the stomach contents of 376 specimens. Etmopterus spinax has shown a predominantly benthopelagic diet consisting mainly in Euphausiacea, Decapoda Natantia, Teleostei and Cephalopoda. Its diet diversifies with growth in terms of resources explored, size of prey and feeding strategies. Small individuals base their diet upon macroplancton and micronecton with bioluminescence capability (Meganyctiphanes norvegica, Pasiphaea spp. and small mesopelagic teleosts), but when maturity is reached they introduce Gadiformes and big cephalopods in their diets. Apparently, this shark benefits from discards.