''Anotopterus vorax'', the Southern Ocean daggertooth, is a species of daggertooth. It inhabits the

Southern Ocean The Southern Ocean, also known as the Antarctic Ocean, comprises the southernmost waters of the world ocean, generally taken to be south of 60th parallel south, 60° S latitude and encircling Antarctica. With a size of , it is the seco ...

circumglobally.

Description

It commonly grows to 90 cm length, and can grow to 105 cm. It has an iridescent skin, and sapphire blue eyes. The colours fade quickly when the fish is removed from the water. It has unusual forward-curved teeth in the upper jaw. It bites fish prey then pulls backwards, often cutting the spine and paralysing the prey. It eats mostly small fish, particularly '' Notolepis coatsi'', a barracudina.

Biology

Prior to spawning, the species sheds its teeth, while its

gastrointestinal tract The gastrointestinal tract (GI tract, digestive tract, alimentary canal) is the tract or passageway of the Digestion, digestive system that leads from the mouth to the anus. The tract is the largest of the body's systems, after the cardiovascula ...

atrophies. They are monocyclic, dying after spawning. This reproductive strategy may have been the result of the great distance between spawning and feeding areas.

References

Anotopteridae Fish described in 1913 Fish of the Southern Ocean Taxa named by Charles Tate Regan {{Aulopiformes-stub