The Cutlassfish Family – Trichiuridae

There are currently FOUR members of the Cutlassfish or Trichiuridae Family, two from the Atlantic Ocean and two from the Pacific Ocean, are presented in this website:

FROM THE ATLANTIC (2):

FROM THE PACIFIC (2):

The Cutlassfish or Trichiuridae Family has thirty-two global members that are found in nine genera. The family includes the Cutlassfish, Frostfish, Hairtails, and Scabbardfish. They are known in Mexico as sables.

The Cutlassfish all have exceptionally elongated and compressed ribbon-like bodies. They are generally steel blue or silver in color. They have a long snout, large eyes, and a large non-protractile mouth with a projecting lower jaw equipped with strong fang-like teeth. Their anal fin has a long base and is preceded by 2 free spines, the first being inconspicuous and the second being enlarged, with 95 to 115 minute rays mostly buried in the skin; their caudal fin is small and forked or thin and tapering; their single dorsal fin originates over the gill covers and runs the entire length of the body that has 3 spines that is continuous and shorter than the ray portion which has 100 to 135 rays; their pectoral fins are small, situated mid-body, and low on the sides; and they do not have pelvic fins. Their lateral line is set very close to the ventral contour of the body. They do not have scales.

The Cutlassfish are found benthopelagic in tropical and warm temperate waters on the continental shelves and slopes from the surface to depths in excess of 1,830 m (6,000 feet). They are voracious predators feeding on fish, squid, and crustaceans. Reproduction occurs via the release of pelagic eggs which develop into pelagic larvae. The Cuttlassfish, in general, are poorly studied with very limited information available about their lifestyle and behavioral patterns including specific details on age, growth, longevity, movement patterns, diet, habitat use, and reproduction.

Some Cutlassfish are a focus of commercial fishermen and sold commercially. They do not have an abundance of meat but are deemed to be an excellent food fish. Most are marketed fresh, salted or frozen. The Cutlassfish date to the Miocene period, 23 million years ago.