Champsodon capensis Regan, 1908
Gaper
photo by SFSA

Family:  Champsodontidae (Crocodile toothfishes)
Max. size:  14.2 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 30 - 552 m
Distribution:  Indian Ocean: from Yemen, Kenya to eastern Cape, South Africa; also between Seychelles and Mauritius.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 5-5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 19-20; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 17-18. Body brownish above, silvery below.
Biology:  Occurs in great shoals. Moves to the surface at night. Minimum depth range from Ref. 121941.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.