Visitors to Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head, N.C., were shocked last week when an evil-looking fanged fish washed up alive on the shore.
The fish has been identified as a long-snouted lancetfish (Alepisaurus ferox), a nocturnal predator that’s rarely seen near shore. The fish are known not only by their large fangs and tall dorsal fin, but also by their habit of eating their own species.
Because it’s a relatively uncommon fish that inhabits the open ocean, little is known about its life cycle.
