Chauliodontidae
by R. H. Gibbs, Jr.
Body long, slender, compressed, with hexagonal areas ('scales') on sides, covered by a gelatinous membrane in life. Jaws with very long fangs; a tiny barbel under chin in young, disappearing with age. Dorsal fin far forward, close to head, the first ray prolonged; dorsal adipose fin present near tail; anal fin close to tail. Two rows of prominent photophores on ventral part of body on each side; hexagonal areas each with one or more smaller photophores.
Fairly common in deep oceanic waters; mesopelagic and bathypelagic, to more than 1,000 m. Seldom observed alive. Some individuals, especially smaller ones, migrate to near-surface waters at night. Feeding on midwater fishes and crustaceans.
Genus 1.
Recent revisions: Morrow (1961, 1964), Parin and Novikova (1974).