Black swallower

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Black swallower
From plate 74 of Oceanic Ichthyology by G. Brown Goode and Tarleton H. Bean, published 1896.
From plate 74 of Oceanic Ichthyology by G. Brown Goode and Tarleton H. Bean, published 1896.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Chiasmodontidae
Genus: Chiasmodon
Species: C. niger
Binomial name
Chiasmodon niger
Johnson, 1864

The black swallower (Chiasmodon niger) is a deep sea fish that has the ability to extend its stomach 3 times its size so that it can swallow fish that are bigger than itself. It can be found in deep seas up to 1,500 meters or in hot tropical waters. It creates its own light because of the darkness found in some parts of the Pelagic zone. The black swallower can grow up to 25 centimeters.

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