The people at Jennette's Pier in Nags Head, North Carolina, were in for a major surprise last week when a scary fanged fish washed up alive on the shore.
The fish has been identified as a long-snouted lancetfish (Alepisaurus ferox), which is a nocturnal predator and is not generally seen near shore. The fish has got unique large fangs and tall dorsal fin and they are known for their large fans and their habit of eating their own species.
This fish lives in deep ocean and that's why not much is known about its lifecycle. In adolescence, lancetfish are hermaphrodites (having both male and female sex organs), but the researchers do not have any evidence of adult hermaphrodites.
Lancetfish are also known as handsaw fish and they have got this name because of their prominent, jagged dorsal fin. The fish have no scales and their scientific name, Alepisaurus, means "scaleless lizard". The skin of this fish is covered with pores.
The Lancet fish can grow to be as long as 6.5 feet in length. They normaly prefer to feed at night and eat crustaceans, squid and smaller species of fish.
Lance! tfish are prey for byseals, sharks and other large fish, including tuna. This fish is not considered good for human consumption, because their muscles contain large amounts of water and it makes their flesh mushy. This fish is consider a "trash" fish by fishermen.
Lancetfish is found in open waters throughout tropical and subtropical oceans, but they can also travel as far north as Greenland and Iceland.
Source : http://www.delhidailynews.com/news/Fanged-cannibal-Lancetfish-washes-ashore-alive-1400612576/
