Viperfish - Viperfish

Japanese: ホウライエソ - ほうらいえそ（英語表記）viperfish

A deep-sea fish of the family Viperidae in the order Crocodiles (illustration). The first ray of its dorsal fin is extended, with a light-emitting organ at the end. It hangs this light-emitting organ at the front of its body to attract fish and shrimp. When prey approaches, it captures it with several canines in both jaws, which have developed to a length more than twice the diameter of the eyes, and swallows it whole. It has jaws with special joints that allow it to swallow prey as long as its own body, and a stomach that can expand and contract. The English name viperfish comes from this predatory habit. The body is long and slender and laterally compressed. There are rows of light-emitting organs along the lower edge of the side of the body and along the ventral surface.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

ワニトカゲギス目ホウライエソ科の深海魚（イラスト）。背びれの第1条が延長し，その先に発光器をもつ。この発光器を体の前方にぶら下げ魚やエビ類を誘う。餌が近づくと眼径の2倍以上の長さに発達した両あごの数本の犬歯でとらえ丸のみにする。自分の体長ほどの餌も丸のみできる特殊な関節をもつあごと伸縮自在の胃をもつ。英名のviperfishはこの捕食習性に由来する。体は細長く側扁する。体側の下縁と腹面に沿って発光器列がある。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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