In the inky blackness two-thousand feet beneath the surface of the ocean, creatures nearly beyond imagination live out their lives. One of them is called the anglerfish, and it calls the deep-sea – one of the world’s least hospital environments – home. The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) has captured a rare encounter with an even rarer species on camera.
There are around 200 species of anglerfish, although fewer than six have ever been captured on camera in their environment. And according to scientists from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, this particular species has never been filmed in its natural habitat.
The Melanocetus, or black sea devil, was observed by the Doc Ricketts, MBARI’s ROV. Earlier this month, it found the 9 cm long anglerfish at nearly 2000 feet, the first time the black sea devil had ever been seen alive and at depth. Researchers also managed to capture the rare creature, which is now being kept in near freezing water and almost complete darkness, similar to its natural habitat. A spokeswoman for the facility said the fish is not expected to live.
Named for the distinctive dorsal spine that hangs above their mouths, the anglerfish lights up the darkness in an attempt to attract other fish. Once they are lured close enough, the angler uses its massive head and gaping mouth to snatch up the unlucky victim. Because their mouths are so large and their bodies so soft, some species of anglerfish are able to digest prey up to twice their size. Although the sea devil in the video is less than 10 cm, some can reach up to 3 feet in length. The majority of them, however, are less than a foot.
Only the females carry the “fishing pole.” Males are much smaller than the females, and have evolved only to find a mate. Once a young male anglerfish encounters a female, it latches on with his teeth. Slowly, the male begins to fuse physically, eventually using her bloodstream. The male loses his eyes and all of his internal organs except his testes.
This is only the third anglerfish (of any species) MBARI researchers have ever seen. The footage and specimen will help them learn more about the habits and movements of the elusive deep-sea fish.
