Date:Wed 11/22/2023 8:00 AM
Happy Wednesday, everyone, and happy first day of Thanksgiving break for most of us! Today's fish of the day is the longnose lancetfish.
The longnose lancetfish, known by the scientific name, Alepisaurus ferox, is known for their deep diving habits and large size. Their natural habitat stretches from as far North as Russia, down to the Gulf of Mexico, in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian ocean. As far as depth, they can be found as low as 8,000 feet below the surface, but they engage in a daily vertical migration, where they travel from far more surface waters down the bathyplagic, and sometimes mesopelagic zone, where they hunt for food.
The diet is varied and is often changed by the area lived in by the individual. The longnose lancetfish is known for being a carnivore, occasionally eating their own species, however this has led to a significant consumption of plastic by these fish. In the front of the mouth the longnose has large teeth, used for subduing prey that is struggling, and to break apart large prey, otherwise the teeth are not used to chewing. However, in the longnose is also prey for many animals, such as large tuna, some sharks, and seals.
Hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday!