Black swallower (Chiasmodon niger)
The black swallower is a species of deep sea fish in the family Chiasmodontidae. It is known for its ability to swallow fish larger than itself.It has a worldwide distribution in tropical and subtropical waters, in the mesopelagic and bathypelagic zones at a depth of 700–2,745 m . It is a very common and widespread ocean fish; of its genus, it is the most common species in the North Atlantic. The black swallower is a small fish, with a maximum known length of 25 cm. The black swallower feeds on bony fishes, which are swallowed whole. With its greatly distensible stomach, it is capable of swallowing prey over twice its length and 10 times its mass. Its upper jaws are articulated with the skull at the front via the suspensorium, which allows the jaws to swing down and encompass objects larger than the swallower’s head.
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