Anotopterus vorax, the Southern Ocean daggertooth, is a species of daggertooth. It inhabits the Southern Ocean circumglobally.[1]
| Anotopterus vorax | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Aulopiformes |
| Family: | Anotopteridae |
| Genus: | Anotopterus |
| Species: | A. vorax
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| Binomial name | |
| Anotopterus vorax (Regan, 1913)
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| Synonyms | |
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Anotopterus antarcticus Nybelin, 1946 | |
Description
editIt commonly grows to 90 cm length, and can grow to 105 cm. It has an iridescent skin, and sapphire blue eyes. The colours fade quickly when the fish is removed from the water.[2]
It has unusual forward-curved teeth in the upper jaw. It bites fish prey then pulls backwards, often cutting the spine and paralysing the prey. It eats mostly small fish,[2] particularly Notolepis coatsi,[1] a barracudina.
Biology
editPrior to spawning, the species sheds its teeth, while it's gastrointestinal tract atrophies. They are monocyclic, dying after spawning. This reproductive strategy may have been the result of the great distance between spawning and feeding areas.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Anotopterus vorax". Fishbase. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
- ^ a b Stewart, Andrew (2008). "Denizens of the deep: daggertooth and stareater". NZ IPY-CAML Voyage 2008: 3 – 5 MAR Seamounts and open water (PDF). Ministry of Fisheries. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
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