Although the pelagic Fangtooth may look a most fearsome foe, he grows no more than 18cm in length. He lurks in the deep, dark recesses of the ocean, as far as 5,000 m deep. Unlike most deep sea denizens, he does not use light to locate prey, relying on touch chemoreception and sheer chance. His disproportionately large mouth and teeth assist in the consumption of any prey he might find. His lower fangs are so long that they do not neatly fit into his jaw, and it is difficult, if not impossible, for him to close his mouth. Juvenile fish are planktonic and live near the surface, descending to the depths when they attain their adult form.
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