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Gaper (Champsodon vorax) — Champsodontidae

Gaper

Champsodon vorax

The Gaper (Champsodon vorax) is a saltwater fish of the family Champsodontidae that grows up to 8 cm.

Length
8.2 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
34.0–84.0 m
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Gaper is a gaper (Champsodontidae) from sandy and muddy bottoms of the continental slope in the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 10 cm and has a slender, semi-translucent body with a large, upward-slanted mouth, high-set eyes and spiny head and gill-cover plates. As a bottom-oriented ambush hunter of deeper water it snaps at small crustaceans and small fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Gaper?

The Gaper has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Gaper live?

The Gaper lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Gaper get?

The Gaper grows to a maximum of about 8 cm.

Is the Gaper dangerous to humans?

No, the Gaper is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Vraatzuchtige gapervis sourced
English name
Gaper sourced
Scientific name
Champsodon vorax
Family
Champsodontidae
Other names
Greedy gaper sourced

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
8.2 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
34.0 verified
Max depth (m)
84.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Champsodon

More from the family Champsodontidae

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