Fangtooth Identification Guide
Spot a fangtooth by its oversized teeth, compact deep body, and large bony head.
Read the full Fangtooth encyclopedia entry →
Key identification features
- Small, compact, deep-bodied fish with a large, bony head
- Extremely long teeth relative to head size - proportionally the largest teeth of any fish - so long the lower fangs slide into sockets beside the brain when the mouth closes
- Rounded, stocky body shape, quite different from most slender deep-sea predators
- Dark brown to black coloration overall
- Large eyes in juveniles that shrink noticeably with age
- Small size, rarely exceeding 6 inches
Common look-alikes
- Viperfish: elongated, slender body versus the fangtooth's short, deep, compact shape
- Black dragonfish: has a long luminous chin barbel that fangtooth completely lacks
- Deep-sea anglerfish: features a fishing-rod-like lure (esca) above the mouth, absent in fangtooth, along with a very different rounded, often bulbous body
Where you'll see one
Fangtooth are found in tropical and temperate oceans worldwide, ranging from a few hundred meters down to over 5,000 meters, making them one of the deepest-living fish species known. Adults tend to occupy darker, deeper water than juveniles, which are found somewhat higher in the water column.
Frequently asked questions
What's the single most reliable fangtooth identifier?
Its oversized teeth relative to its head - so large that the lower fangs must fit into special sockets beside the brain when the mouth shuts.
How do I tell a fangtooth from a viperfish?
Body shape is the giveaway - fangtooth is short, stocky, and deep-bodied with a large head, while viperfish is long, slender, and eel-like with a dorsal fin lure fangtooth lacks.