{{Short description|Species of fish}} {{Speciesbox | image =Drawing_of_Lepidopus_caudatus_from_The_Royal_Natural_History_(1896).jpg | status= DD | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name = IUCN>{{cite journal | author = Iwamoto, T. | year = 2015 | title = ''Lepidopus caudatus'' | journal = The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species | volume = 2015 | page = e.T198721A42691759 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T198721A42691759.en | doi-access = free }}</ref> | taxon = Lepidopus caudatus | authority = (Euphrasen, 1788) | synonyms = *''Trichiurus caudatus'' <small>Euphrasen, 1788</small> *''Lepidopus argenteus'' <small>Bonnaterre, 1788</small> *''Trichiurus ensiformis'' <small>Vandelli, 1797</small> *''Lepidopus gouanianus'' <small>Lacepède, 1800</small> *''Trichiurus gladius'' <small>Holten, 1802</small> *''Vandellius lusitanicus'' <small>Shaw, 1803</small> *''Scarcina argyrea'' <small>Rafinesque, 1810</small> *''Lepidopus peronii'' <small>Risso, 1810</small> *''Ziphotheca tetradens'' <small>Montagu, 1811</small> *''Lepidopus xantusi'' <small>Goode & Bean, 1896</small> *''Lepidopus lex'' <small>Phillipps, 1932</small> }}

The '''silver scabbardfish''' (''Lepidopus caudatus''), also known as the '''frostfish''' or '''beltfish''' is a benthopelagic cutlassfish of the family Trichiuridae found throughout the temperate seas of the world. It grows to over {{convert|2|m}} in length. 300px|thumbnail|center|Silver scabbardfish sold in Syracuse (Italy)

==Behaviour==

''Lepidopus caudatus'' is known to strand itself in winter months, likely due to being caught in currents when the fish migrate closer to shore for spawning.<ref name="Secrets">{{citeq|Q114871191|pp=214-217}}</ref>

==In a human context==

''Lepidopus caudatus'' is a traditional food for the Māori people of New Zealand, known by the name {{lang|mi|pāra}}. The fish was not typically caught, but eaten as a supplementary food when schools washed ashore, especially common around Moeraki in Otago.<ref name="Secrets"/> Māori traditionally believed that strandings were caused by the fish chasing the Moon, while early European settlers believed that frostfish purposefully chose to end their lives by stranding themselves.<ref name="Secrets"/>

==References== {{Reflist}} * {{FishBase| genus = Lepidopus | species = caudatus | month = January | year = 2006}} * Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, ''Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand'', (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) {{ISBN|0-00-216987-8}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1529720}}

Category:Trichiuridae Category:Fish described in 1788

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