Hatchetfish
ExploreFish
Hatchetfish
Argyropelecus
Hatchetfish are unique fish with shiny, silvery bodies that look like tiny hatchets. They live in the dark depths of the ocean and have special glowing spots to light their way.
Habitat: Deep Sea
Appearance
The Hatchetfish has a strikingly deep, silvery, and highly compressed body, giving it a unique axe-head shape. It features large, tubular, upward-facing eyes and a belly lined with numerous light-emitting organs called photophores.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassActinopterygiiOrderStomiiformesFamilySternoptychidaeGenusArgyropelecus
Category
FishRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Imagine living hundreds of meters deep where it's always dark!
Some hatchetfish have eyes like binoculars to see tiny snacks.
They are so delicate, many deep-sea cameras scare them away!
They spend their days in the deep and swim up at night to hunt.
Special abilities
Ability
Light Cloak
Hatchetfish can produce light from their belly photophores that helps them disappear against the faint sunlight from above.
Ability
Sky Spy Eyes
Hatchetfish has large, tubular, upward-pointing eyes that help them spot faint silhouettes of prey against the surface light.
Ability
Axe Body Maneuver
Hatchetfish has a uniquely thin, deep body that helps them quickly dart through water to escape predators.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 2-12 cm
- Weight
- 0.001-0.02 kg
- Lifespan
- 2-5 years
- Swim Speed
- 5 km/h
- Maximum Depth
- 1000 m
- Water Type
- Saltwater
Diet & Feeding
Hatchetfish are hunters of the deep, feeding on tiny drifting ocean creatures.
Primary Foods
- Copepods
- Ostracods
- Euphausiids
- Amphipods
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
hunts
Viperfish
Chauliodus sloani
A fierce deep-sea hunter that preys on smaller fish.
eats
Swordfish
Xiphias gladius
Large ocean predators that consume hatchetfish during migrations.
eaten by
Copepod
Calanus finmarchicus
Tiny crustaceans that hatchetfish snatch from the water.
Traits
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
Camouflaged
Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment.
Piscivorous
Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish.
Thermoregulating
Thermoregulating organisms maintain a stable internal body temperature despite fluctuations in the external environment.
Deep Sea
Deep sea habitats are characterized by extreme pressure, darkness, and cold temperatures, supporting unique life forms below the sunlit zone.
Aquatic
Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
Glowing
Pertaining to organisms that emit light through bioluminescence or fluorescence.
Nocturnal
Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day.
Also known as
Sternoptychidae
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Hatchetfish are not dangerous to humans but should be admired from a distance to protect their habitat.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Hatchetfish?
2-12 cm
How much does Hatchetfish weigh?
0.001-0.02 kg
How long does Hatchetfish live?
2-5 years
What does Hatchetfish eat?
Hatchetfish are hunters of the deep, feeding on tiny drifting ocean creatures.
How fast can Hatchetfish swim?
5 km/h
Where is Hatchetfish usually found?
Deep Sea
How does Hatchetfish hunt?
Foraging
How deep can Hatchetfish go?
1000 m
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