'Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi'
Abstract
Champsodon genus belonging to the family
Champsodontidae are constituted by bottom
dwelling fishes at great depths (400 – 1000 m) in
the oceans and are commonly referred to as gapers.
These are characterized by a large head and mouth,
an elongate compressed body densely covered with
small denticulate scales, pre-opercle with a
prominent postero-ventral spine bearing small
serrations on the ventral side, a short spinous dorsal
fin, small pectoral fins, unusually large pelvic fins
and a complex acoustic-lateralis system that
consists of two horizontal lateral lines
interconnected by vertical rows of sensory papillae
