Savalai hairtail
A deep-water cutlassfish found in the Indian and west Pacific oceans.
The Savalai hairtail is a deep-water cutlassfish native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. This species grows up to a metre long and rises to the surface at night to hunt small fish and prawns.
- Reaches a maximum length of one metre and weighs up to eleven kilograms.
- Lives in deep ocean waters at depths of one hundred metres or more.
- Rises to the ocean surface at night to hunt for food.
- Feeds mainly on small fish and crustaceans, particularly prawns.
What it is
The Savalai hairtail is a type of cutlassfish, which is a group of predatory marine fish known for their elongated, blade-like bodies. This specific species reaches a maximum length of one metre and can weigh up to eleven kilograms. It is a deep-water fish, typically living at depths of one hundred metres or more. Its body is adapted for life in the open ocean, allowing it to swim efficiently through the water column while hunting for prey.
Where it lives
This species is native to the Indian Ocean and extends its range into the western Pacific Ocean. Its distribution reaches as far east as the coastal waters of Australia. As a deep-water inhabitant, it prefers to live far below the surface, typically residing at depths starting from one hundred metres. This deep pelagic environment provides the specific conditions it needs to thrive away from shallow coastal habitats.
How it lives
The Savalai hairtail exhibits a distinct nocturnal hunting pattern. During the night, it leaves its deep-water habitat and rises to the surface of the ocean to feed. Its diet consists primarily of small fish and various crustaceans. Prawns form a particularly important part of its nightly meals. By moving to the surface in the dark, it takes advantage of the cover of night to catch its prey before returning to deeper waters.
Questions people ask about Savalai hairtail
Where does the Savalai hairtail live?
It is native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean, reaching as far east as Australia. It lives in deep waters at depths of one hundred metres or more.
What does the Savalai hairtail eat?
It feeds on small fish and crustaceans. Prawns are a major part of its diet. It hunts for this food by rising to the surface of the water at night.
How large does the Savalai hairtail grow?
This species can grow to a maximum length of one hundred centimetres, which is about thirty-nine inches. It can also reach a maximum weight of eleven kilograms, or roughly twenty-four pounds.
Good reading and sources
- Lepturacanthus savala on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Lepturacanthus savala", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.
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