Species: Aphanopus carbo, Black Scabbardfish

Aphanopus carbo Lowe, 1839

Black 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 XXXVIII-XL (rarely XLI), 52-56, 90-96 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 2-5), 44-48 (rarely 43) 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 151 cm.

Adults benthopelagic, juveniles mesopelagic

Depth range 200-2300 m.

Temperate to tropical Atlantic and Pacific; New Foundland to the Gulf of Mexico.