Species: Aphanopus intermedius, Intermediate scabbardfish

Aphanopus intermedius    Parin, 1983

Intermediate scabbardfish

Body elongate , compressed; head top profile smooth, gently rising from snout to dorsal fin, without crest on top;  top of head between eyes and on nape flat; lower jaw projecting; jaws with front fangs, and triangular teeth on sides; roof of mouth with no teeth in center, a few teeth in a single row on sides; gill rakers spiny; dorsal fin XL-XLIV (rarely XXXIX), 54-59,  96 (rarely 95)-102 elements, with a deep notch between spines and rays; anal fin with II close-set spines well before rest of fin, the 1st small, imbedded in adult, the 2nd strong, dagger-like (under dorsal soft rays 3-6), 46-50 soft rays; pectorals 12, top rays shorter; pelvics absent in adults, juveniles with 1 spine inserted before pectoral base; tail fin present, small, forked; lateral line slowly descends from top of gill opening to mid-side

Body coppery black; inside mouth and gill chamber black.

Reaches 148 cm.

Adults benthopelagic, juveniles mesopelagic

Depth range 300-1350 m; juveniles 300-500 m

Tropical Atlantic and Pacific; the Gulf of Mexico to Haiti.