Tadpole Whiptail

Dark brown, becoming blackish on the gular and branchiostegal membranes. Inside of mouth and gill cover black. Head fully scaled, mandibular band is narrow (Ref. 37108). Orbit tiny, about 10% of head length, placed forward of small, inferior mouth. Chin barbel absent. First gill slit not restricted by membranous folds of skin, outer gill rakers long, slender. Branchiostegal rays 7. Anus immediately before anal fin. Tail straplike. Anal fin long, poorly developed. No light organ. Swimbladder regressed. (Ref 1371)

Live at midwater as well as benthopelagic levels (Ref. 37108).

分布於大西洋及印度-太平洋區。臺灣主要發現於西南部的南海水域。

不具漁業經濟價值。偶被研究船捕獲，具有研究價值。

頭相當大而圓，腹部亦彭大，尾部細長，整個身體狀似蝌蚪。眼位於上頜前部上方，相當小，僅約為頭長之1/10。口部下位，不具下頜鬚。第一鰓弓外側鰓耙平板狀，其下方與鰓腔相連。頭部具不規則且帶小棘的鱗片。單一背鰭，鰭條相對低矮，無硬棘；臀鰭基部亦相當長；腹鰭存在，相當小，具有5根鰭條。體呈灰黑色。(何宣慶、林沛立編寫 2012/12)

主要棲息在深海大陸斜坡及大陸隆起堆，棲息深度在600-1740公尺間，屬深海區魚類。肉食性，以深海無脊椎動物及魚類等為食。

Known from seamounts and knolls