Species Summary for Anotopterus pharao
Daggertooth
Anotopterus pharao Zugmayer, 1911
Family: Anotopteridae (Daggertooth)
Order: Aulopiformes
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
FB name: Daggertooth
Distribution: Antitropical from temperate waters to the poles in the Atlantic and Pacific. North Pacific: Japan to Bering Sea and to southern California, USA. Southwestern Pacific: New Zealand (Ref. 5755). Eastern Pacific: California Current region (Ref. 35956) and Chile (Ref. 9068). Western Atlantic: Greenland to New Jersey, USA (Ref. 7251). Eastern Atlantic: Iceland (Ref. 12462), France to Canary Is. (Ref. 6693), and south of Cape Agulhas, South Africa (Ref. 4057). Indian Ocean: Mozambique Channel and off Transkei, South Africa (Ref. 4057).
Diagnosis: Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal softrays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft-rays: 14-17; Vertebrae: 78-83. Silvery to dusky, almost black on caudal fin, and black on tips of pectoral fin rays; adipose pale with dark anterior margin; black on tips of jaws, branchiostegal membranes, inner surface of operculum, and peritoneum (Ref. 6885). Branchiostegal rays: 7-9 (Ref. 35956).
Biology: Found in a wide range of depths, sometimes near surface (Ref. 2850) to below 2,000 m. Larger adults inhabit colder water toward the poles, whereas, the young and smaller adults inhabit more temperate regions (Ref. 35956). Feed on mollusks, crustaceans, marine worms, coelenterates, salps, and fishes (Ref. 4525, 6885). Preyed upon by albacore, Pacific lancetfish, halibut, steelhead salmon, blue shark, pomfret, and whales (Ref. 6885). Its distensible body wall and large stomach can accommodate prey up to half of its own length. Oviparous, with planktonic larvae (Ref. 35956).
Max. size: 146.0 cm TL; max.weight: 1,650.0 g
Environment: bathypelagic; marine ; depth range - 500 m
Climate: deep-water; 66°N - 65°s
Importance: fisheries: of no interest
Threatened: Not in IUCN Red List () , (Ref. 36508)
Dangerous: harmless
