Animal Species:Shortsnout Lancetfish, Alepisaurus brevirostris Gibbs, 1960

Alternative Name/s

Shortsnouted Handsawfish

Identification

The Shortsnout Lancetfish has a slim, elongate body. It has a long-based first dorsal fin followed by a small adipose fin. The caudal fin is large and forked. The anal fin is short-based and positioned posteriorly on the body.

The species has a large mouth with large fangs on the roof of the mouth and at the front of the lower jaw. There are smaller triangular and caniniform teeth elsewhere on the jaws and the roof of the mouth.

It is iridescent brownish-black above and paler laterally. The long lateral keels at the rear of the body are black. The dorsal fin may have a row of white spots close to its base.

Size range

96 cm

Distribution

The species occurs in temperate marine waters worldwide, except the North Pacific.

In Australia it has only been recorded from off Eucla, Western Australia.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Shortsnout Lancetfish specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Habitat

It occurs at bathypelagic and mesopelagic depths.

Classification

Species:

brevirostris

Genus:

Alepisaurus

Family:

Alepisauridae

Order:

Aulopiformes

Class:

Actinopterygii

Subphylum:

Vertebrata

Phylum:

Chordata

Kingdom:

Animalia

What does this mean?

References

1. Glover, C.J.M. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.

 

Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated: 13 September 2012

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Alepisaurus brevirostris, Shortsnouted Handsawfish, long and skinny, fangs, elongate, forked caudal fin, large mouth, triangular teeth, brownish-black, pale underside, dots/spots, white spots, > 1m, temperate water, marine,