Description
provided by World Register of Marine Species
Bathypelagic and mesopelagic: Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Very elongate body. Jaws extremely long; the lower jaw shorter than the upper making the jaws nonocclusible, with the exception of ripe males. Pectoral fin present. Dorsal and anal fins united with caudal fin. Large eyes. Preopercle lacking. Frontals partly united. Complete lateral line. Vertebrae 170-750. Sexually mature males undergo distinct changes, like the radical shortening of the jaws and tooth loss.
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