Fangtooth, Fangtooth Blackfin, Blackfin Fangtooth, Anoplogaster cornuta

The fangtooth is a small, deep-sea fish known for its disproportionately large mouth and extremely long, fang-like teeth, which give the species its name. It typically reaches lengths of 20–25 cm (8–10 inches). The body is dark brown to black in color. They have large, tubular eyes adapted for seeing in the dim light of the deep sea. Their appearance is quite striking, contributing to their somewhat fearsome reputation.

Fangtooths are bathydemersal fish, meaning they inhabit the dark, deep-sea benthic (bottom) environments. They are typically found at depths ranging from 100 to 1,300 meters (330 to 4,270 feet) in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, and also in the Mediterranean Sea. They prefer muddy or rocky bottoms.

Fangtooths are ambush predators, lying in wait on the seafloor and using their large mouths and needle-like teeth to quickly capture prey. They are opportunistic feeders, consuming small fish, crustaceans, and other invertebrates. Little is known about their reproductive habits, but it is presumed they spawn in the deep sea. Their larvae are planktonic, drifting in the water column before settling to the seafloor.

Due to their deep-sea habitat and relatively small size, fangtooths are not commercially fished or consumed by humans. Their flesh is likely to be of low quality and difficult to retrieve. Due to the depth they inhabit, there are concerns about potential contaminants, making consumption generally discouraged.