Anotopterus

Anotopterus
Anotopterus sp. (2008)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Aulopiformes
Family: Anotopteridae
Genus: Anotopterus
Zugmayer, 1911
Species

Anotopterus nikparini
Anotopterus pharao
Anotopterus vorax

The daggertooths (genus Anotopterus) are a genus of aulopiform fish, the sole genus of the family Anotopteridae. They are found in oceans worldwide, but prefer cooler waters.[1]

Daggertooths are similar to the related lancetfishes in appearance, with a large mouth and dagger-like teeth. However, as their scientific name (meaning "without fins on its back") suggests, they lack the large dorsal fins of the lancetfishes. They grow to as much as 147 centimetres (4.82 ft) in length.

Species

Only three species of the family and genus have so far been formally described:[2]

Family Anotopteridae

A possible fourth species was discovered in 2008, but has yet to receive a taxonomic name.[3]

References

  1. ^ Johnson, R.K. & Eschmeyer, W.N. (1998). Paxton, J.R. & Eschmeyer, W.N.. ed. Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. p. 126. ISBN 0-12-547665-5. 
  2. ^ Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2008). "Anotopteridae" in FishBase. December 2008 version.
  3. ^ Stewart, Andrew. "Science report: Denizens of the deep: daggertooth and stareater." NZ IPY-CAML Voyage 2008. 2008. Ministry of Fisheries. Crown Copyright: 2008. [1]