Velvet Belly Lantern Shark

Velvet Belly Lantern Shark

Written by: Holly

The Velvet Belly Lantern shark lives in deep waters in the North Eastern Atlantic Ocean. It lives very close to the bottom of the ocean in depths between 500­ and 1,500 feet! However, it has been found at depths of 7,000 feet – that is more than a mile down! Because of how deep it lives, it makes it extremely hard for predators living above to find it.

The Velvet Belly Lantern shark eats lots of small things. It eats squids, other smaller sharks, crustaceans, and bony fish. It eats a lot more than what I listed.

It is very rare for it to be over 2 feet long. It weighs about 2 pounds.

The Velvet Belly Lantern shark does not migrate back and forth like others sharks. However, it migrates vertically to reach the top sometimes. That’s why humans have not discovered a lot about it.

The Velvet Belly Lantern shark is one of the glow-in-the-dark sharks. It is a very neat shark. Like its name, its belly is black like velvet and really does glow because it produces organs that light up its belly. Its belly makes blue and green light that is visible from 9-12 feet away. It has large eyes that are extremely bright and glow brightly in the ocean. On its skin are glowing spots that are called photophores (FOH-tuh-fors). They are all over its body.

Now you know a little bit about the Velvet Belly Lantern shark. Do you know why I chose this shark? It glows. That is why I like it. Do you want to learn more about it?