Giant Hatchetfish
Argyropelecus gigas
About
The giant hatchetfish is the biggest of the marine hatchetfishes, though giant is a family word rather than a real one: it reaches 12 cm. It lives in the open ocean well away from the coast, between 300 and 1000 metres down, and spends most of its time at 400 to 600 metres. It is found in tropical and warm waters of every ocean except the North Pacific.
Also known as: hatchet fish, greater silver hatchetfish, hatchetfish, hatchet fish, greater silver hatchetfish
- Length
- 12 cm
- Depth
- 400–600 m
How to tell it apart
Hatchetfishes are hard to tell apart, and size is the quickest guide here. This is the largest of them, roughly twice the length of the small silver hatchetfishes that share the same water. If the fish is near 12 cm, and carries that raised ridge in front of the dorsal fin, this is the one.
Appearance
A tall, thin, silver body squeezed flat from side to side, with the hatchet outline the group is named for. In front of the dorsal fin stands a well developed bony blade, a raised ridge along the back. Adults reach 12 cm.
Did you know?
Most of its relatives ride up and down with the daylight, climbing towards the surface at night. This species shows no sign of that daily migration and stays in its depth band instead.
Log it in Into the Blue
Describe what you saw and we name it, then keep every species you find in your Oceandex.