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Frostfish (Benthodesmus vityazi) — Trichiuridae

Frostfish

Benthodesmus vityazi
Family: Trichiuridae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Frostfish (Benthodesmus vityazi) is a saltwater fish of the family Trichiuridae that grows up to 77 cm.

Length
77 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–900.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The Vityaz frostfish is an elongate cutlassfish from the deeper waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans. The species grows to about 77 cm and has a ribbon-shaped, silvery, strongly compressed body with a long dorsal fin and sharp teeth. As a predator it lives in open water over the continental slope, to about 900 metres depth, and hunts small fish, squid and crustaceans. The fish is largely harmless to humans and has little commercial value. The IUCN has not evaluated the species.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Frostfish?

The Frostfish has a snake-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Frostfish live?

The Frostfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Frostfish get?

The Frostfish grows to a maximum of about 77 cm.

Is the Frostfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Frostfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Frostfish edible?

The Frostfish is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Vityaz-haarstaartvis verified
English name
Frostfish verified
Scientific name
Benthodesmus vityazi
Family
Trichiuridae
Other names
Vityaz' frostfish; Vityaz's frostfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
77.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
900.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Benthodesmus

More from the family Trichiuridae

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