The smallest shark in the world is known as the dwarf lantern shark. The shark is found off the northern shores of South America and rarely exceeds more than 8 inches in length.
Since the dwarf lantern shark mainly inhabits ocean waters at depths between 900 and 1,500 feet, little is known about the species, which has only been observed a handful of times. The dwarf lantern shark is named for the light-emitting photophores found along its belly and fins. The organs are used to camouflage the fish in the sunlight when it feeds in shallower waters and to attract prey in darker waters.
