Fangtooths

These voracious marine hunters have fearsome, sharp fangs and especially large mouths. 

Once seized, there is no escape for 

any unfortunate victim targeted by a fangtooth.

For all their notoriety as deadly hunters of the deep, fangtooths are small fish that can themselves fall victim to larger hunters like tuna and marlin. Against such large predators, fangtooths have little defense. Young fangtooths additionally move assurance in opposition to predators in the shape of a spine on top of the head and another on the bottom edge of one of the bones that cover the gills. Baby fangtooths look so different from adults that, for about a hundred years, they were each thought to belong to separate species.

Deadly Combination

Sharp teeth, large mouths, and (often) large stomachs are commonly found in deepwater predators. This combination allows such fish to survive in an environment where food is scarce. If a suitable meal comes along, no hunter can afford to let the opportunity swim away. It might be an extended time before an alternate one meal happens to come within reach. Not surprisingly, therefore, deepwater hunters like fangtooths have mouths and teeth designed to grab hold of such prey and swallow it whole; even if at first the meal appears to be too large to swallow.