The razor-sharp teeth of the Sloane’s viperfish are completely transparent, allowing them to conceal their weapons and catch their prey off guard before it’s too late.
The Sloane’s viperfish (Chauliodus sloani) is one of the most terrifying deep-sea creatures, characterized by a large mouth filled with enormous, sharp, hooked teeth.
Its entire body is black, with some bioluminescent parts used for hunting. Notably, it has a long, glowing dorsal fin that acts as a lure.
The Sloane’s viperfish (Chauliodus sloani) is a deep-sea fish with a fearsome appearance and sharp teeth. They are found in tropical and temperate waters, widely distributed across the Pacific, western Mediterranean Sea, and the Indian Ocean. According to the Guinness World Records, the Sloane’s viperfish has the largest teeth relative to head size, making up more than half of its head length. In fact, the Sloane’s viperfish has such large fangs that it cannot close its mouth. If it did, it would puncture its own brain.
The Sloane’s viperfish features large, transparent teeth alongside a band of bioluminescent organs known as photophores along its belly. These characteristics help it survive in the deep sea (Photo: Getty).
These razor-sharp teeth also have a peculiar appearance, being completely transparent. This allows them to hide their “weapons,” making it difficult for prey to notice them until it’s too late.
In addition to the Sloane’s viperfish, several deep-sea predators possess a secret weapon that makes them a “magnet” for prey. This is bioluminescence — the ability to produce light.
The Sloane’s viperfish typically does not exceed 35 cm in length, and its teeth are even smaller, measuring just over a centimeter. They primarily feed on other bony fish and small crustaceans. The sides of their bodies are covered with small bioluminescent organs called photophores that emit green, blue, or yellow light. This flickering light not only helps conceal the viperfish from predators but also attracts prey through the long filament along its dorsal fin.
Shape of the Sloane’s viperfish. (Photo: Diego Grandi).
To consume larger prey, the viperfish can dislocate its jaw, allowing its mouth to open up to 90 degrees. Combined with the ability to stretch its stomach, the viperfish can consume food that is 63% of its body length. As a result, they typically eat every 12 days. When they swallow their prey, their jaws close tightly. The bite force is so strong that the first vertebra of the Sloane’s viperfish, located behind its head, has evolved to absorb shock.
Even if the prey is small enough to avoid being bitten, it has little chance of escaping the mouth of the Sloane’s viperfish. The interlocking sharp teeth form a cage with no gaps, firmly trapping the prey within its mouth.
