Giant hatchetfish
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 Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling
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| Argyropelecus gigas Norman, 1930 |
The giant hatchetfish, Argyropelecus gigas, a marine hatchetfish of the genus Argyropelecus, is found in deep tropical and subtropical waters of all oceans, except the north Pacific. Its length is between 8 and 12 cm, and it is the largest fish in its family.
The giant hatchetfish is a deep-bodied species with large eyes that are directed upwards, enabling prey to be silhouetted against the faint light coming from the surface, and a large mouth also directed upwards. The whole belly is covered in downward directed photophores, which are thought to disguise the fish's dark shape from other upward-looking predators.
This silvery coloured plankton-eating fish lives at depths of bebetween 300 and 650 m.
[edit] References
- Argyropelecus gigas (TSN 162218). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 18 April 2006.
- "Argyropelecus gigas". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. March 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
- Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand, (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) ISBN 0-00-216987-8
