Alepisaurus ferox

Family	Scientific Name	Author	Year	Common Name
Alepisauridae	Alepisaurus ferox	Lowe	1833	Longnose Lancetfish

Alepisaurus ferox

Unique Characters: Large (to 2 m) aulopiform fishes, very elongate, slender and compressed flabby body. Snout long, 1/3 to 1/2 head length. Dorsal fin nearly as long as body and sail-like. Dorsal-fin origin over or slightly posterior to pectoral-fin origin. Small adipose fin above posterior part of anal fin. Pectoral fins set very low on body and longer than pelvic fins which are located about midbody. Large mouth with large hollow teeth. No spines present in any fins. Scales absent. Caudal peduncle with midlateral adipose keel. Body iridescent blue-black above, grey-silver below; dorsal fin blue-black.

Similar Species: Shortnose Lancetfish, Alepisaurus. brevirostris. Snout short, 1/4 to 1/3 head length. Dorsal-fin origin distinctly in front of pectoral-fin origin.

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