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Day sarpon (Alepisaurus ferox) — Alepisauridae

Day sarpon

Alepisaurus ferox
Family: Alepisauridae
LC · Least Concern

The Day sarpon (Alepisaurus ferox) is a saltwater fish of the family Alepisauridae that grows up to 215 cm.

Length
215 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–1830.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The long snouted lancetfish is a large, slender predatory fish of the family Alepisauridae living worldwide in tropical to subtropical oceans. It has an elongate, silvery body with a strikingly high, sail-like dorsal fin and a large mouth bearing long, dagger-like teeth. The species hunts mainly at night for fishes, squid, tunicates and crustaceans and can reach about 215 cm. It occurs from near the surface to well over a thousand metres deep and is a synchronous hermaphrodite. Lancetfishes are caught mainly as bycatch in the pelagic longline fishery.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Day sarpon?

The Day sarpon has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Day sarpon live?

The Day sarpon lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Day sarpon get?

The Day sarpon grows to a maximum of about 215 cm. On average the species is around 150 cm.

Is the Day sarpon dangerous to humans?

No, the Day sarpon is harmless to humans.

Is the Day sarpon edible?

Yes, the Day sarpon is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Langsnuit-lansvis sourced
English name
Day sarpon verified
Scientific name
Alepisaurus ferox
Family
Alepisauridae
Other names
Handsaw fish; Handsaw-fish; Lancet fish; Lancetfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
215.0 verified
Average length (cm)
150.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
1830.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Simultaneous hermaphrodite sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Vooral als bijvangst in de pelagische langlijnvisserij. sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

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