Sloane's Viperfish, Chauliodus sloani Bloch & Schneider, 1801

Scientific name: Chauliodus sloani
Sloane's Viperfish, Chauliodus sloani Click to enlarge image
The sides of the body are covered with hexagonal pigmented areas, each with one or more small photophores (light-producing organs). The photophores are visible in this image as white spots above and below the pectoral fin. Another circular photophore is visible under the eye. Image: Carl Bento
© Australian Museum

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Chauliodus
    Species
    sloani
    Subfamily
    Stomiinae
    Family
    Stomiidae
    Order
    Stomiiformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to over 30 cm in length.

Introduction

Sloane's Viperfish is one of the most recognizable deep sea fishes with its long fang-like teeth and photophores illuminating the side of its body.

Viperfish, Chauliodus sloani
A 25 cm long Viperfish trawled during the NORFANZ expedition at a depth between the surface and 1320 m in international waters south-east of Norfolk Island, May 2003 (NMNZ P.38921). Image: Mark McGrouther
© NORFANZ Founding Parties

Identification

The species can be recognised by its large mouth, long fang-like teeth and long first dorsal fin ray (up to half the body length). It is an iridescent dark silver-blue colour in life with pale fins. The sides of the body are covered with hexagonal pigmented areas, each with one or more small photophores.

Viperfish, Chauliodus sp
Chauliodus sloani
Viperfish, Chauliodus sloani

Habitat

Like many other species of deepsea fishes, Sloane's Viperfish is known to vertically migrate. During the day it is found at depths from 500 m to 2500 m, but at night it swims up into shallower water (less than 600 m) where food is more plentiful.

Distribution

The species occurs in tropical and temperate marine waters world-wide. In Australia, specimens have been collected from south-western Western Australia, around the north of the country and south to Tasmania.

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

Feeding and diet

It feeds mostly on crustaceans and small fishes. The first dorsal fin has photophores that are believed to attract prey.

Breeding behaviours

Little is known of the reproduction of this species, but it is believed to spawn externally. This means that the males and females release sperm and eggs into the water where fertilization occurs.

References

  1. Gomon, M.F & E.M. Robertson. in Gomon, M.F, C.J.M. Glover & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
  2. Harold, A.S. 1999. Chauliodontidae. In Carpenter, K.E. & V.H. Niem (Eds). FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 3. Batoid fishes, chimaeras and bony fishes part 1 (Elopidae to Linophrynidae). FAO, Rome. Pp. iii-vi, 1398-2068.
  3. McCulloch, A.R. 1916. Report on some fishes obtained by the F.I.S. Endeavour on the coasts of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South and South-Western Australia. Part 4. Biol. Res. Endeavour 4(4):169-199 figs 1-2, pls 49-58 [179 pl 52].