Viperfish

Viperfish

Viperfish

Common name: Viperfish

Scientific Name: Chauliodus sp.

Genus: Chauliodus

Distribution: Viperfish is found in the depths of tropical and sub-tropical seas.

Description: The viperfish is a name given to a species of deep sea fish of the genus Chauliodus. Viperfish can grow at a length of 30-60cm. It can be easily identified with its long slender snake-like body and a powerful jaw with needle-like long sharp teeth which makes it a skillful predator of the sea world. Viperfish can have green, silver and black body depending on sub-species. The overall appearance is like a creature from your worst nightmare.

Viper-fish

Habit and habitat: Though viperfish has a powerful jaw, it prefers to attract its prey hanging silently in water and producing light from their light-producing organ, named protophore, located on the end of its dorsal fin. However, the light is also used to attract mates and to threat rivals. In wild, a viperfish can live up to 30-40 years. Viperfish is found in deep sea, around 250-5000 ft depth of tropical and subtropical area.

Importance: The bio-illuminiscent present in the protophore provides an opportunity for research on bio-luminescence in the deep sea and the behavior of other deep-sea fishes.