This spooky fish has gaping fanged jaws

The longnose lancetfish (Alepisaurus ferox) is found in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, including off the coast of California where this specimen washed up on the beach. Its scientific genus name, Alepisaurus, means "scaleless lizard." Longnose lancetfish are scaleless fish, with smooth skin and pores along the lateral line. Their species name, ferox, means “fierce.” The flesh of a lancetfish is watery and gelatinous and generally not appetizing to humans. They are eaten by sharks, tuna, fur seals, and other lancetfish. Lancetfish are notorious cannibals, but also hunt other fish and invertebrates in the cold, dark midwater depths known as the twilight zone. Lancetfish are sometimes called handsaw fish, wolffish and lanzon picudo.