Viperfish: Deep-sea terror with the largest teeth in the marine world

Discoveries made by scientists can sometimes send a shiver down your spine, especially when you look into the depths of the oceans. A fish with record-breaking large teeth can evoke fear.

IFLScience presented information about a fish that could be the most unsettling creature living in the depths of the oceans. We are talking about the viperfish (Chauliodus sloani), also known as the demon of the deep—a fish that can boast the largest teeth relative to the size of its head in the marine world.

The Guinness World Records confirms that the viperfish's teeth make up more than half the length of its head. A distinctive feature is that they are so long that, with the mouth closed, their tips overlap.

Although it might sound terrifying, the viperfish usually reaches up to 14 inches in length, with its teeth not exceeding 0.4 inches in length. Interestingly, a fish from the same genus—the Pacific viperfish (Chauliodus macouni)—has similarly fearsome teeth.

Setting aside the terrifying fangs for a moment, the viperfish's unassuming yet equally fascinating features is worth noting. Its dark-silver, iridescent skin hides photophores—small light-emitting organs that help it with camouflage while simultaneously attracting prey. Moreover, the ability to dislocate its jaw and increase the size of its stomach allows this fish to swallow prey, reaching up to 63% of its own length. This is possible thanks to an evolutionary adaptation—this fish can eat about once every 12 days, making it an effective, though not frequent, predator. Additionally, the structure of its first cervical vertebra acts as a shock absorber when closing its mouth, allowing it to securely catch and retain its prey.

The viperfish rightfully deserves the title of monster from the deep, but its small size and remote habitats make it merely an object of scientific fascination for humans, rather than a real threat. Despite its terrifying appearance, this deep-sea creature plays an important role in the marine ecosystem, highlighting the incredible diversity of life hidden in the darkness of the oceans.