Species: Benthodesmus tenuis, Slender Frostfish Scabbardfish, Slender frostfish

Benthodesmus tenuis (Gunther, 1877)

Slender frostfish

Body extremely elongate and compressed, depth 2.8-5.5% SL; upper head profile rises smoothly from tip of snout to origin of dorsal fin; nape without a central, longitudinal crest; lower rear edge of gill cover convex; lower jaw projecting; tips of both jaws with a short skin knob in large fish; jaws with front fangs and slightly compressed side teeth; roof of mouth with 1 row of teeth on each side, none in center; gill rakers on first arch spiny; dorsal fin with long base, XXXVIII- XLII, 78-87 (total elements 118-128), partially divided by a shallow notch, base of spinous part about ½ length of base of soft part; anal fin II (close-set, 1st rudimentary, not visible in adults, 2nd comb-like, delicate, well forwards of rest of fin), 69-76, rays developed along entire fin; pectorals 12; pelvic fins minute, with a scale-like spine & a rudimentary soft ray, inserted before or below pectoral base; tail fin small, forked.

Silvery; jaws, operculum, and inside mouth and gill chamber black.

Reaches 230 cm

Benthopelagic

Depth range 200-850 m.

Pantropical; New York to Brazil.