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The teeth and head of a pacific viperfish

The Pacific Viperfish is classified as one of the most ferocious deep seas fish for its size. Looking at the mouth and curvature of teeth one can easily recognize the Pacific Viperfish. The fangs of the pacific viper are abnormally long that its jaw is extended out, so its teeth can fit outside of its mouth. The fangs rest near the viper’s eyes. These fangs are the viper’s way of killing fish, the viper will swim at high speeds at its prey and impale them in the process. High speed collisions and force in bites have cause the viperfish to adapt to high impact. The vertebrae that is located right behind its head is used a shock absorber, very similar to an air bag.

The Photophore is found on the dorsal fin of the pacific viper. The photophore uses Bioluminescence to produce light to entice a victim. The prey is attracted to the flickering light like a fishing lure. Along with the extended photophore on the dorsal fin, the viperfish also carries photophores on side and underneath its body. The lights underneath provide a camouflage to fish from below. The photophore also serves as a communication tool; it is used by the viperfish to signal a mate or ward off potential rivals in the area. The pacific viper utilizes the low visibility and darkness to its advantage for hunting tactics. The pacific viper lies motionless in the darkness and waves its blinking lure over its head and waits on its meal to arrive. Their stomach is quite large, and they have low basal metabolic rates which enables them to go days without food and store up on food.

Little is known on Pacific viper reproductions due to the depths it lives at. Due to darkness and limited mates it is best suited that the pacific viper externally Spawn (biology) or oviparous. Females will release eggs into the water which the male will fertilize. The number of eggs and larvae produced by the female is determined by the temperature of the water and concentration of salt. Spawning is believed to occur year-round but with spikes of young larvae during January and March. When an offspring is born it is about six millimeters long. Offspring’s are expected to defend themselves until they are mature.

The Pacific Viperfish is one of the nine different species that belong to the genus Chauliodus or Viperfish. The pacific Viperfish tend to be the largest of the species, at a length of about 30 centimeters. Pacific Viperfish do not have a particular fish that they mainly feed on, but they will go after Plankton, shrimp, small fish and occasionally will catch a larger fish. They live deep under water in a region know as the Bathyal zone or bathypelgic, ranging from 1000m-4000m and having an average temperature of 4 degrees Celsius. However, the Pacific Viperfish has been found in the mesopelagic region, above the Bathypelagic, at night for hunting. Viperfish are not an endangered species, but they are preyed on by some dolphin and shark species. They are also unable to live in captivity because of the extreme pressure differences within the environment. Pacific Viperfish have been recorded living from 15-40 years in their natural habitat. A few species have been captured, but only lasted a couple hours before dying.