Viperfish Fossil range: 11–0 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N Late Miocene to Present1
Dana viperfish, Chauliodus danae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Stomiiformes Family: Stomiidae Genus: Chauliodus Bloch & Schneider, 1801
Species
See text.

A viperfish is a deepwater fish in the genus Chauliodus, with long, needle-like teeth and hinged lower jaws. They grow to lengths of 30 to 60 cm (12 - 24 inches).

The name viperfish is also sometimes applied to the lesser weever.

Species

There are 27 species:

• Chauliodus barbatus (Lowe, 1843).
• Dana viperfish, Chauliodus danae Regan & Trewavas, 1929.
• Chauliodus dentatus Garman, 1899.
• Pacific viperfish, Chauliodus macouni Bean, 1890.
• Chauliodus minimus Parin & Novikova, 1974.
• Chauliodus pammelas Alcock, 1892.
• Chauliodus schmidti (Regan & Trewavas, 1929).
• Sloane's viperfish, Chauliodus sloani Bloch & Schneider, 1801.
• Chauliodus vasnetzovi Novikova, 1972.

Miscellaneous

The cover of Mr. Bungle's 1995 album Disco Volante features a dried viperfish around a person's eye.

References

1. ^ Sepkoski, Jack (2002). "A compendium of fossil marine animal genera". Bulletins of American Paleontology 364: p.560, http://strata.ummp.lsa.umich.edu/jack/showgenera.php?taxon=611&rank=class. Retrieved on 8 January 2008. 

• "Chauliodus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. January 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.