Long snouted lancetfish
📖 Overview
Mainly inhabit tropical and subtropical waters; however, during the feeding period adults may migrate to the subarctic reaching as far north as Greenland, Iceland and the Bering Sea . Epipelagic- and mesopelagic, from near the surface to below 1,000 m, sometimes approaching inshore waters . Bathypelagic . Mainly nocturnal. Feeds on fishes, cephalopods, tunicates, and crustaceans . Preyed upon by opah, sharks, albacore, yellowfin tuna, and fur seals . Oviparous, with planktonic larvae . Are synchronous hermaphrodites . Occasionally consumed but of little importance due to its soft flesh . The maximum weight given is for a 167 cm FL specimen .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 30 - 45; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 13 - 18; Vertebrae: 47 - 52. Mouth large with two erect fangs on palatines. Dorsal fin very high, about three rays beginning with third or fourth much exerted; adipose moderate in size, over posterior part of anal insertion . Generally pale, iridescent, darker dorsally; lateral adipose keel dark; all fins dark brown or black; peritoneum black . Branchiostegal rays: 7-8 .: elongated; Cross section: circular.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Long snouted lancetfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Longnose lancetfish diet varies depending on its inhabited area. Studies of diet variation have produced inconsistent results. They are known to prey on 98 component families; individuals may even consume man made materials, such as plastic. The longnose lancetfish is a migratory predator. It is known to travel to a depth of 1,830 m (6,000 ft) in order to hunt. A study in Suruga Bay, Japan, investigated the stomach contents of various specimens that had washed ashore and found, along with indigestible materials, traces of marine species of the photic and aphotic zones. This study showed that the longnose lancetfish is a deep sea diving species capable of migrating across different sea depths. As aforementioned, the longnose lancetfish is referred to as the cannibal fish due to its conspecific predation habits. The extent of cannibalistic behavior depends on the availability of non-conspecific prey, with frequency of these patterns ranging from 0 to 45.5%. Such is contingent upon the availability and ease of finding other prey. Size is an influencing factor; small lancetfish will not resort to cannibalism as quickly as larger fish.
🥚 Reproduction
Oviparous. Gonads of adolescents are hermaphroditic, but there is no proof that the species is a functional hermaphrodite . However, further studies show that this species is a synchronous hermaphrodite where gonads consist of clearly defined and well separated ovarian and testicular regions with no indication of sequential maturation of the sex products .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; bathypelagic; oceanodromous ; depth range 0 - 1830 m . Deep-water; 84°N - 57°S, 180°W - 180°E Northwest Atlantic: Canada (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
fishes, cephalopods, tunicates, and crustaceans (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Long snouted lancetfish is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 16.3 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 82 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Long snouted lancetfish has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Day Sarpon · Handsaw Fish · Handsaw-fish · Lancetfish · Long snouted lancetfish · Long snouted lancetfish, Lancetfish · Longnose lancetfish · Longsnout Lancetfish · Pacific Lancetfish · Wolffish · Longsnouted Lancetfish |
| 🌍AFR | Langneus-lansetvis |
| 🌍CES | dlouhonos třásnitý |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Langsnudet skalpelfisk |
| 🇩🇪German | Lanzenfisch |
| 🌍ELL | Alepisavros · Αλεπίσαυρος |
| 🌍EST | Saaghammaskala |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | purjeliskokala |
| 🇫🇷French | Cavalo Ocelle · Cavalo feroce · Lancier Longnez · Lancier long-nez, Cavalo féroce, Cavalo ocelle |
| 🌍ISL | Stóri földungur |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Sauro feroce |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Mizu-uo · Mizuo · ミズウオ |
| 🇰🇷Korean | 돛란도어 |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | Lansvis |
| 🌍NNO | langsnuta lansefisk |
| 🌍NOB | langsnutet lansefisk |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Zaglon |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Lírio-ferro · Peixe-cavalo · Peixe-lanceta-de-focinho-afiado · Peixe-água |
| 🌍RON | Somon-lup |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Алепизавр лютый (длиннорылый, большеголовый) · Большеголовый алепизавр · алепизавр лютый |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Conejo · Lanzon · Lanzón Nariz Larga · Lanzón picudo · conejo de lo alto |
| 🇸🇪Swedish | Ödlevargfisk |
| 🌍THA | ปลาเขี้ยวกาง |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 北方帆蜥魚 · 太平洋帆蜥魚 · 帆蜥魚 · 長吻帆蜥魚 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alepidosaurus aesculapius | Bean | 1883 | Synonym |
| Alepidosaurus borealis | Gill | 1862 | Synonym |
| Alepidosaurus poeyi | Gill | 1863 | Synonym |
| Alepidosaurus serra | Gill | 1862 | Synonym |
| Alepisaurus aesculapius | Bean | 1883 | Synonym |
| Alepisaurus altivelis | Poey | 1860 | Synonym |
| Alepisaurus azureus | Valenciennes | 1850 | Synonym |
| Alepisaurus borealis | Gill | 1862 | Synonym |
| Alepisaurus richardsonii | Bleeker | 1855 | Synonym |
| Plagyodus aesculapius | Bean | 1883 | Synonym |
| Plagyodus borealis | Gill | 1862 | Synonym |
| Plagyodus ferox | Lowe | 1833 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 44 records indexed .
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