deep-sea lizardfish
Bathysaurus ferox
Deep-bottom lizardfish, between 1,000 and 2,500 m, occurring in the Atlantic as far as the Rio Grande Rise, Brazil.
Also called: peixe-lagarto-de-mar-profundo, deep-sea lizardfish
- maximum
- 64 cm
- depth
- 1,000–2,500 m
who is the deep-sea lizardfish
Bathysaurid fish of the family Bathysauridae, up to 64 cm. It lives on the deep-sea bottom, usually between 1,000 and 2,500 m, below the 4 °C isotherm. It has a wide distribution, with records in several oceans. In the western Atlantic it ranges from the Davis Strait to the Rio Grande Rise, Brazil. It rests motionless on the bottom with its head slightly raised. It mainly feeds on fish and decapods, such as shrimp and crabs. It is a synchronous hermaphrodite. The species is commercially fished.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the deep-sea lizardfish.
fun facts
- It is a synchronous hermaphrodite, meaning it has organs of both sexes in the same individual.
identification
Elongated body, with the tallest part just in front of the dorsal fin. Flat, bony head with a large mouth and conical teeth, curved backward, almost all of them folding. It has no spines on the dorsal and anal fins. It rests still on the bottom with its head slightly raised, like other lizardfish.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
Occurs in deep Atlantic waters of the western Atlantic, from the Davis Strait to the Rio Grande Rise, off southeastern and southern Brazil, and in the Dominican Republic.
Habitat: Deep-sea bottom, usually between 1,000 and 2,500 m.
coast
rules for the deep-sea lizardfish
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
Conservation: Not on the Brazilian national list (Ministerial Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1.667/2026).
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
No danger to anglers. It has conical teeth pointing backward, so hold it carefully when handling.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00324, b = 3.16; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Bathysaurus ferox (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Bathysaurus feroxNames by country and language.
- official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026: Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção (peixes e invertebrados aquáticos)The species is not on the list. Checked in the DOU of April 28, 2026.