Long snouted lancetfish
Alepisaurus ferox
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Long snouted lancetfish
- Scientific
- Alepisaurus ferox
- Dhivehi
- ފަންގަނޑު ތޮޅިFangadu tholhi
- Maximum size
- Up to about 2.1 m (total length); commonly 1.5 m; max. published weight 9 kg (FishBase); MRS 1997 gives max. 2 m
- Depth and habitat
- Deep open water, recorded from 0 to 1830 m
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2009
Description
A long, slender, scaleless fish with a huge sail-like dorsal fin running most of its length, large fang-like teeth and turquoise eyes. It lives in the open ocean from near the surface to below 1,000 m and is a voracious predator of fish, squid and crustaceans. It is often found in the stomachs of tunas.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi name fangadu tholhi (MRS 1997). MRS notes some Maldivian fishermen believe it is a juvenile sailfish.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Alepisaurus-ferox.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ފަންގަނޑު_ތޮޅި
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Alepisaurus_ferox_on_deck.jpg
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives (FAO/BOBP MAG/21) gives 'Fangadu tholhi' (Latin form). Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ފަންގަނޑު ތޮޅި' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it matches the Latin form. FLAG: the source states no traditional name was recorded and this descriptive name was coined for the book; it is not an established fishermen's name.