Chauliodus danae Regan & Trewavas, 1929
Dana viperfish
Chauliodus danae
photo by Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Canada

Family:  Stomiidae (Barbeled dragonfishes), subfamily: Chauliodontinae
Max. size:  15 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 0 - 500 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: Portugal south to Cape Verde. Western Atlantic: Gulf of Mexico and eastern Caribbean Sea. Northwest Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 6-6; Anal soft rays: 10-11. Dorsal fin posterior. Small photophores between the lateral and ventral rows of large serial organs consistently spaced between successive large organs. Dark, sometimes paler below. Body marked with five rows of hexagonal pigment areas (Ref. 37473).
Biology:  An oceanic and mesopelagic species (Ref. 3588). May migrate to near-surface waters at night (Ref. 4759). Feeds on fishes and crustaceans (Ref. 4759).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 21 May 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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