Not much is known about the life span of the viperfish, but most researchers think they live
between 15 and 30 years
. In captivity, they rarely live longer than a few hours. Viperfish are found in tropical and temperate waters throughout the world at depths of up to 9,000 feet (2,800 meters).
What makes a viperfish scary?
What’s most striking about viperfish is their
large mouth and needle-like teeth
. This in combination with a hinged jaw makes gives this type of fish a particularly creepy appearance.
What do viper fish eat?
Pacific viperfish will mostly eat
crustaceans and small fish
. They typically reach lengths of up to 1 foot and are considered an example of deep-sea gigantism.
Is the Viper fish endangered?
Not extinct
How big is a viper fish?
In spite of its ferocious appearance, the viperfish is a relatively small animal, growing to about
11 or 12 inches (30 centimeters) in length
. It is usually dark silvery blue in color, but its coloration can vary from green to silver or black.
Where does the Viper fish live?
They are found in
tropical regions of the major oceans
. The viperfishes are deep-sea dwellers and have luminescent organs along the sides; the lights sometimes function in the attraction of other fishes on which they feed.
How fast is a viper fish?
Scientists believe they can swim at a speed of
two body lengths per second
, but this is not yet an official speed. Although it may appear to be covered in scales, it is covered by a thick, transparent coating of unknown substance.
Can a viper fish close its mouth?
They have proportionately enormous head and jaws, with large eyes and extremely long, needle-like teeth that angle back from the lower jaw. The teeth of the viperfish are so long that they do not fit in its mouth; in fact,
they extend far enough back that it can poke its own eyes out if it closes its mouth fully
.
Is there a dragon fish?
dragonfish, also called sea moth, any of about five species of small marine fishes comprising the family Pegasidae and the order Pegasiformes.
Dragonfish are found in warm Indo-Pacific waters
. They are small (to about 16 centimetres [6
1
/
2
inches] long), elongated fish encased in bony rings of armour.
What zone do vipers live?
The Pacific viperfish, Chauliodus macouni, is a predatory fish that lives in the
bathyal zone or bathypelgic
, ranging from 1000m-4000m and having an average temperature of 4 degrees Celsius. However, the pacific viperfish has been found in the mesopelagic region, above the bathypelagic.
How do viperfish glow?
The viperfish, Chauliodus sloani, has
a luminescent lure on the end of a modified fin ray that it can arch forward in front of its mouth
. In the dim depths, all that the viperfish’s would-be prey sees is a glowing morsel.
How big do anglerfish get?
Most anglerfish are
less than a foot long, but some can be up to 3.3 feet (1 meter) in length
! This creature was found 1,600 feet deep in the ocean. It’s an Anglerfish, distinguished by the rod protruding from its head that it uses to attract prey.
Who discovered the viper fish?
Sloane’s viperfish, Chauliodus sloani, is a predatory, mesopelagic dragonfish found in deep-open waters across the world. The species was first described by German scientists
Marcus Elieser Bloch and Johann Gottlob Schneider
in their 1801 book Systema ichthyologiae: iconibus CX illustratum, volume 1.
How do you make a viper fish?
What causes abyssal gigantism?
Proposed explanations for this type of gigantism include
colder temperature, food scarcity, reduced predation pressure and increased dissolved oxygen concentrations in the deep sea
. The inaccessibility of abyssal habitats has hindered the study of this topic.
What do angler fish eat?
Anglerfish are not very picky eaters, and as creatures that dwell near the ocean floor, they will try to find sustenance from any prey they encounter in a nutrient-poor environment.
Any variety of crustaceans, snails, small fish, and even some prey up to twice the size of an anglerfish
can serve as a possible meal.
How big is a gulper eel?
They are black in color and can reach about
2-3 feet in length
, which isn’t that significant compared to other eel species (the largest eel species is the European conger, which can reach up to almost 20 feet long!)
How do vipers hunt?
The Pacific viperfish’s
needle-like teeth are the key to their hunting strategy
. The two front fangs, which jut up from the fish’s bottom jaw past its own eyes, are especially dramatic. When viperfish unhinge their jaws, their mouths can open wide enough to engulf prey, while the teeth form a cage to prevent an escape.
How do Hatchetfish use bioluminescence?
Since these light organs point downward, it is believed they are used
to hide the fish from predators through the process of counterillumination
. This means that they can adjust the intensity of their underside lights to make them nearly invisible against the faint light above.
Which of the sea creature has teeth?
Bottlenose dolphins
, found in warm waters throughout the world, have 80 to 100 sharp, conical-like teeth, which are meant for grasping—and not chewing—food. They have this set of teeth for their entire lifespan, and don’t grow new teeth if one falls out.
