Viper Fish example essay topic

461 words
The viper fish is one of the fiercest predators of the deep. It's scientific name is Chauliodus sloan i. The viper fish's name comes from its fang resemblance to the Viper Snake. The viper fish, which typically grows to at least a foot long, has a very large mouth, which opens very widely but is not big enough to contain the fish's long teeth. The viper fish is also bio luminescent, with photophore's light-emitting organs on its dorsal fin and along its body to lure its prey to it. The fish has been observed hovering in place in the water with its dorsal fin curved around so that its photophore is waving near its mouth, as a means of drawing prey.

Because the viper fish's body is dark blue or black in color, it is thought that other fish can see no part of it other than its lights. The viper fish uses swimming for locomotion. It has been known to impale its victims on its teeth by swimming toward them, while using its first vertebra as a shock absorber. The viper fish's diet consists of shrimp, squid, and little fishes. The viper fish is found at depths of 500-2500 meters during the day in the part of the ocean sometimes called the 'twilight zone,' because very little light penetrates to that depth. When it goes in search of the crustaceans and small fish that are its main sources of food at night; it rises as close as to the surface as 80 meters where food is more plentiful.

The Viper fish occurs in tropical and temperate marine waters world-wide. In Australia, specimens have been collected from south-western Western Australia, around the north of the country and south to Tasmania. An adaptation that the viper fish has made is the dorsal fin has photophore's that are believed to attract prey. Little is known of the reproduction of this species, but it is believed to spawn externally. This means that the males and females release sperm and eggs into the water where fertilization occurs.

Chauliodus sloan i inhabit depths that make them very difficult to study. There is very little is known about their behavior one they do is vertically migrate during the night. Many fish do this to improve their chances of finding food and to avoid predators that could normally see them during the day. The viper fish is most closely related to the fang fish. They are both Classified in the family of Chauliodontidae. The viper fish is classified as follows.

Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Subphylum Vertebrata Class Actinopterygii Order Salmoniformes Suborder Stomioidei Family Chauliodontidae. vs.