Trichiurus lepturus

Trichiurus lepturus
Atlantic Cutlassfish – Trichiurus lepturus
FamilyScientific NameAuthorYearCommon Name
TrichiuridaeTrichiurus lepturusLinnaeus1758Atlantic Cutlassfish

Trichiurus lepturus

Unique Characters: Caudal fin absent, body tapering into a hair-like process. Pelvic fins absent.

Similar Species:

Crested Scabbardfish
Lepidopus altifrons

Channel Scabbardfish
Evoxymetopon taeniatus

Crested Scabbardfish Lepidopus altifrons. Caudal fin present, small, and forked. Pelvic fins present, but strongly reduced, modified to a scale-like process (flattened spine) with 0-2 tiny soft rays. Head about 6 times in standard length, with upper profile almost straight, gently rising from tip of snout to dorsal-fin origin. Total dorsal-fin elements 90-96.

Channel Scabbardfish Evoxymetopon taeniatus. Caudal fin present, small, and forked. Pelvic fins present, but strongly reduced, modified to a scale-like process (flattened spine) with 0-2 tiny soft rays. Head about 8 times in standard length, with upper profile convex, steeply rising from tip of snout to dorsal-fin origin. Total dorsal-fin elements 81-88.

Gallery