Deepsea lizardfish
| Deepsea lizardfish | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Aulopiformes |
| Family: | Bathysauridae |
| Genus: | Bathysaurus |
| Species: | B. ferox |
| Binomial name | |
| Bathysaurus ferox Günther, 1878 | |
The deepsea lizardfish, Bathysaurus ferox, is an aulopiform of the family Bathysauridae, found in tropical and subtropical seas across the world. The deepsea lizardfish should not be confused with the true or "typical" lizardfishes of the related family Synodontidae.
Appearance
Deepsea lizardfish are covered in tough scales and either dark brown or black, have black eyes as well as a black lining to the mouth and gill cavity. Deepsea lizardfish have been known to reach over 70cm in length. [1]
Habitat
Deepsea lizardfish are found at depths of 600 - 3,500 m, in the aphotic zone.[2]
Feeding habits
From the aphotic zone, it feeds upon small squid and shrimp, as well as dead fish drifting down from above.[3]
References
- ↑ Dianne J. Bray, 2011, Deepsea Lizardfish, Bathysaurus ferox, in Fishes of Australia, accessed 06 Oct 2014, http://www.fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/4005
- ↑ http://ocean.si.edu/ocean-photos/deepsea-lizardfish
- ↑ https://mdilleymillbrook.wikispaces.com/Deepsea+Lizardfish
- Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2006). "Bathysaurus ferox" in FishBase. May 2006 version.
- 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