Longnose tapirfish (Polyacanthonotus challengeri)

Scientific name: Polyacanthonotus challengeri Vaillant, 1888

The Longnose tapirfish (Polyacanthonotus challengeri) is a marine fish of the family Notacanthidae.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 32 - 35; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Vertebrae: 242 - 244. Caudal fin very small; anal fin with 161-162 rays altogether, 26-35 of which are spines, long, low, confluent with caudal; pectorals with a fleshy base. Cream to faintly pink, possibly with light brown markings; black on posterior margins of anal and caudal fins; black on posterior edge of gill cover, lining of mouth and gill chamber, and parts of peritoneum.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Polyacanthonotus challengeri
Family: Notacanthidae (Deep-sea spiny eels)
Order: Notacanthiformes (Halosaurs and deep-sea Spiny eels)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 60.0
Depth range: 905–4560 m (2969–14961 ft)
Environment: Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 905 - 4560 m, usually 2000 - 3000 m
Climate: Deep-water
Distribution: North Pacific: Japan, Bering Sea and British Columbia, Canada, also south to Oregon, USA. South Pacific: known form one specimen collected near New Zealand. Southeast Atlantic: South Africa. Southern Ocean: known from one specimen collected near the Kerguelen Islands. Mainly antitropical but reported from Azores, Canary Islands and Morocco.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Assuming tmax>10)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026