Chauliodus sloani Bloch & Schneider, 1801
Sloane's viperfish
Chauliodus sloani
photo by Garazo Fabregat, A.

Family:  Stomiidae (Barbeled dragonfishes), subfamily: Chauliodontinae
Max. size:  35 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 200 - 4700 m
Distribution:  Warm and temperate parts of all oceans but with several distributional gaps in the southern central Atlantic, northern Indian Ocean, eastern Pacific north of the equator, etc. Also found in the western Mediterranean (Ref. 4759). South China Sea and East China Sea (Ref.74511).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 5-8; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 10-13. Body iridescent silver in color (Ref. 3981). Slender body, forward position of dorsal fin and greater number of serial photophores (Ref. 37473).
Biology:  Inhabits deep oceanic waters to more than 1,000 m depth; may migrate to near-surface waters at night (Ref. 4759). Up to depth of 1800 m (Ref. 47377). Depth range 473-1192 m in the eastern Ionian Sea (Ref. 56504). Meso- and bathypelagic from near the surface to 2800 m (Ref. 58302). Oviparous (Ref. 5951). Feeds on midwater fishes and crustaceans (Ref. 4759); mainly on myctophids (Ref. 5951). Lipid content is 2.4 % in fresh body weight and wax ester is 7.2 % in total lipids (Ref. 9193). Minimum depth from Ref. 58018.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 02 May 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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