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Bigeye frostfish (Benthodesmus pacificus) — Trichiuridae

Bigeye frostfish

Benthodesmus pacificus
Family: Trichiuridae

The Bigeye frostfish (Benthodesmus pacificus) is a saltwater fish of the family Trichiuridae that grows up to 112 cm.

Length
112 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
100–1,000 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Pacific Ocean; deeper water from ~300 m.
Edibility
Rarely eaten

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Description

The Pacific frostfish is a cutlassfish relative (Trichiuridae) from the Pacific Ocean. The species has an extremely elongate, ribbon-shaped, silvery body with a long dorsal fin and a large mouth with fine, fang-like teeth. It lives in deeper water, from about three hundred metres and deeper, and sometimes migrates to shallower layers. As a predator it hunts crustaceans and small fishes. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bigeye frostfish?

The Bigeye frostfish has a snake-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Extremely long, ribbon-shaped silvery body with fang-like teeth; deep-water predator.

Where does the Bigeye frostfish live?

The Bigeye frostfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around mixed bottom. Pacific Ocean; deeper water from ~300 m.

How big does the Bigeye frostfish get?

The Bigeye frostfish grows to a maximum of about 112 cm.

Is the Bigeye frostfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Bigeye frostfish is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Bigeye frostfish edible?

The Bigeye frostfish is rarely eaten.

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Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Bigeye frostfish is one of 12,519 species in the app.

All data

Identification

English name
Bigeye frostfish verified
Scientific name
Benthodesmus pacificus
Family
Trichiuridae
Other names
North Pacific frostfish; North-Pacific frostfish verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
100 verified
Max depth (m)
1,000 verified
Natural range
Pacific Ocean; deeper water from ~300 m.
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Crustaceans and small fishes sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary
Territorial
No
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known.
Special features
Extremely long, ribbon-shaped silvery body with fang-like teeth; deep-water predator. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed.
Regulations source

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Benthodesmus

More from the family Trichiuridae

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