[vahy-per-fish] 
) -fish, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) -fish⋅es. | any of several deep-sea fishes of the family Chauliodontidae, having a large mouth and fanglike teeth, some species having light-emitting organs on their bodies. |
| vi·per·fish (vī'pər-fĭsh') n. pl. viperfish or vi·per·fish·es Any of various small deep-sea fish of the family Chauliodontidae, having fanglike teeth, a long first ray of the dorsal fin, and photophores along the sides. |
viperfish
any of six species of marine fishes belonging to the genus Chauliodus, the sole genus in the family Chauliodontidae (order Salmoniformes). They are found in tropical regions of the major oceans. The viperfishes are deep-sea dwellers and have luminescent organs along the sides; the lights sometimes function in the attraction of other fishes on which they feed. The name viperfish comes from the long fangs that protrude from the upper and lower jaws, used to firmly grip struggling prey. All of the species are small, the largest being the Pacific viperfish (C. macouni), which attains a length of 30 centimetres (1 foot)
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