Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Perciformes (Perch-likes) >
Chiasmodontidae (Snaketooth fishes)
Etymology: Chiasmodon: Name from the Greek 'chiasmos' which means diagonally arranged, and 'odous' for tooth or teeth..
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; pelagic-oceanic; depth range 700 - 2745 m (Ref. 58426), usually 750 - ? m (Ref. 6649). Deep-water; 46°N - 5°S, 95°W - 5°E (Ref. 82429)
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 25.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 6944)
Vertebrae: 43 - 44. This species is distinguished from its congeners by a set of characteristics: from C. braueri by the teeth on second ceratobranchial absent (vs. present) and supraorbital canal pores 7 (vs. 8); from C. harteli by total vertebrae 43-45 (vs. 47-48), supraorbital canal pores 7 (vs. six); from C. microcephalus by teeth on basibranchials well developed, 3-18, always present on second basibranchial and often on third basibranchial and second hypobranchial (vs. usually no teeth on basibranchials, rarely 1-3, small, restricted to second basibranchial); from C. pluriradiatus and C. asper, by pectoral-fin rays 13-14 (vs. 15-16), tiny dermal spinules on body of specimens larger than 45.0 mm absent (vs. with spinules), fang in premaxillary head 1 (vs. 2), and supraorbital pores 7 (vs. 8 and 9, respectively) and from C. pluriradiatus by lateral-line pores 86-93 (vs. 91-94); from C. subniger, by teeth on second basibranchial present (vs. none), infraorbital pores 14 (vs. 12-13, modally 13), snout elongate and pointed, 22.2-26.6% HL (vs. snout short and blunt, 21.4-23.9% HL), upper jaw 72.2-80.0% HL (vs. 63.9-72.7% HL), and lower jaw 80.0-86.7% HL (vs. 69.0-76.7% HL) (Ref. 82429).
North Atlantic: tropical and temperate; including Gulf of Mexico, from 95°W to 5°E, 46°N to 5°S (Ref. 82429). Southwestern Atlantic: Argentina (Ref. 44852).
Mesopelagic to bathypelagic species (Ref. 6944, 28429). Specimens larger than 4.5 cm are more frequently collected between 730 and 1900 m with shallowest record being 150 m, the deepest 3900 m (mean 1390 m). Juveniles are found in shallower water, from 0 to 1,050 m (mean 542 m), with the smallest specimens (>10.0 mm) collected nearest to the surface (Ref. 82429). Feed on whole fish, often of individuals longer than themselves (Ref. 9686). Most specimens were taken at depths greater than 750 m (Ref. 6649).
Melo, M.R.S., 2009. Revision of the genus Chiasmodon (Acanthomorpha: Chiasmodontidae), with description of two new species. Copeia 2009(3):583-608.
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 90363)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
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Estimates of some properties based on empirical models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 0.5078 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01074 (-0.20813 - 0.22962), b=3.03100 (2.91633 - 3.14566), based on LWR estimates for this family-BS (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 4.2 ±0.73 se; Based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
69278): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate vulnerability (36 of 100) .
