Kali falx Melo, 2008

Family:  Chiasmodontidae (Snaketooth fishes)
Max. size:  16.43 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 1300 - 2870 m
Distribution:  Atlantic, Indian and Pacific: Equatorial and tropical regions of the northern hemisphere: from a single locality in eastern Atlantic at 8° N; two localities in Indian at about 14° N; and Pacific Plate and Eastern Pacific, between 29° N and 10° N.
Diagnosis:  Body elongate, laterally compressed. Greatest body depth at origin of first dorsal fin. Scales absent, except for lateral-line scales, embedded in skin. Kali falx is diagnosed from its congeners by a unique characteristic: first tooth in lateral remarkably enlarged, 17.2-20.5% in premaxillary length, sickle-shaped, projecting anteriorly (vs. first tooth in lateral series of premaxilla of same size or smaller than adjacent teeth in K. colubrina, K. kerberti, K. macrodon, K. macrura, and K. parri; fang-like, 15.2-16.4% in premaxillary length, slightly curved, not projecting anteriorly in K. indica).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 October 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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