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Animal profile

Sloane's Viperfish

Chauliodus sloani

ActinopterygiiMesopelagic waters by day, shallower layers at night, roughly 200 to 2,000 metresLeast Concern

Field profile

Sloane's viperfish is a slim dragonfish relative rarely exceeding about 30 centimetres. It carries needle-like fangs too long to fit inside a closed mouth, and rows of light organs along its flanks. It migrates upward at night to feed and descends again by day.

Scope note

This is an editorial profile, not a diagnostic field-identification guide or a substitute for current conservation assessments. Follow the cited sources on each fact for the evidence trail.

Published field notes

2023-09-11

Sloane's Viperfish

The viperfish cannot close its teeth away

Sloane's viperfish has fangs so long that the front teeth of the lower jaw project outside the head when the mouth shuts, curving back past the eyes rather than folding into any socket.

Read with evidence →

Sloane's Viperfish | Daily Animal Facts