Richardson's snaggletooth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Richardson's snaggletooth |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Stomiiformes |
| Family: | Stomiidae |
| Genus: | Astronesthes |
| Species: |
A. richardsoni
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| Binomial name | |
| Astronesthes richardsoni Poey, 1852
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| Synonyms | |
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Richardson's snaggletooth (scientific name: Astronesthes richardsoni) is a small fish that lives deep in the ocean. It belongs to a family of fish called Stomiidae. You can find this fish in the warm parts of the western Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico.
A Cuban scientist named Felipe Poey first described it in 1852. He named it Chauliodus richardsoni after a Scottish explorer, John Richardson. Later, it was moved into the Astronesthes group of fish.
What Does It Look Like?
Richardson's snaggletooth is a thin fish, flattened from side to side. It has a short nose and a mouth that opens straight forward. This fish has big, fang-like teeth. The teeth on its upper jaw point backward and look like a comb.
It has a long, ribbon-like whisker, called a barbel, under its chin. This barbel does not have a glowing tip. The fin on its back, called the dorsal fin, has 12 to 14 soft rays. The fin on its underside, called the anal fin, has 13 to 18 rays.
This fish also has two small, fleshy fins called adipose fins. One is on its back, near its tail. The other is on its belly, near its rear end.
Richardson's snaggletooth is black. It has two rows of special glowing spots, called photophores, on each side of its belly. Many other glowing spots are found on its head and body. There is also a glowing patch on the edge of its gill cover. This fish can grow up to about 5.7 inches (145 mm) long.
Where Does It Live?
Richardson's snaggletooth lives in the mesopelagic zone of the ocean. This is a deep part of the ocean where only a little sunlight can reach. You can find it in the tropical western Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the eastern Gulf of Mexico.
This fish can live as deep as 3,300 feet (1,000 meters). However, it is most common in shallower waters, usually above 1,000 feet (300 meters) deep.
What Does It Eat?
Richardson's snaggletooth is a predator. This means it hunts and eats other animals. It mainly feeds on other small fish and on tiny shrimp-like creatures called krill.
 | James B. Knighten |
 | Azellia White |
 | Willa Brown |
