ANIMAL SPECIES:Shortsnout Lancetfish, Alepisaurus brevirostris Gibbs, 1960
The Shortsnout Lancetfish is a slender species with large fangs. It occurs in deep temperate waters in most oceans.
Alternative Name/s
Shortsnouted HandsawfishIdentification
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 cmDistribution
The species occurs in temperate marine waters worldwide, except the North Pacific.
In Australia it has only been recorded from off Eucla, Western Australia.
Distribution by collection data
Biomaps map of Shortsnout Lancetfish specimens in the Australian Museum collection.
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
References
- 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.
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Shortsnout Lancetfish, Alepisaurus brevirostris View full size
Mark McGrouther
© NORFANZ Founding Parties
A juvenile Shortsnout Lancetfish View full size
Mark McGrouther
© NORFANZ Founding Parties
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