lancetfish

Alepisaurus ferox

Conspecific remains found inside its stomach

Northern Hemisphere
Regional distribution
Marine fish
Atlantic Ocean
Indian Ocean
Pacific Ocean
Central America and the Caribbean
East Asia
North America
South America
Elongated
Large

Alepisaurus ferox, also known as the long snouted lancetfish, longnose lancetfish, or cannibal fish, is a species of lancetfish found in the ocean depths down to 1,830 m (6,000 ft). This species grows to 215 cm (85 in) in total length and a weight of 9 kg (20 lb). The appellation cannibal fish stems from discoveries of partially-digested conspecifics in captured specimens.

Class: Teleosts
Order: Lizardfishes and Allies
Family: Alepisauridae
Genus: Alepisaurus
Maximum length: 215 cm
Water: Marine
Body shape: elongated
Distribution: Circumglobal: Western Pacific (Ref. 6885 , 7300 ); Eastern Pacific: from the Aleutian Islands to Chile, also (Ref. 2850 ); Western Atlantic: Gulf of Maine to the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, also (Ref. 7251 ); Eastern Atlantic (Ref. 4059 ). Indian Ocean (Ref. 57630 ). Northwest Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951 ). South China Sea and East China Sea (Ref. 74511 ).
Conservation status: LCLeast Concern

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