Deep Sea Anglerfish that Resembles an Alien Creature Washed up on a California Beach
Have you ever seen a deep sea anglerfish that looks like an alien? If that is the case, it will be a very rare sight.
The anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius) is a monkfish belonging to the Lophiidae tribe. The dangerous anglerfish, in addition to being among the top ten most dangerous fish, should also rank in the top ten ugliest species on the planet.
It can be found in deep waters, especially in the Atlantic and Antarctic oceans.
In the marine protected area of Crystal Cove State Park, this shocking deep sea anglerfish was found on the beach and this one is most definitely the ‘Pacific Football Fish’ species.
Angler fish size range from 2 to 18 cm in length, with some species reaching 100 cm and only female angler fish have a long stalk on their heads with bioluminescent ends, which they use as bait to entice prey in the darkness of depths of up to 3,000 feet.
In the bait of the deep sea anglerfish, there are bacteria that produce their own light. A deep sea anglerfish can hide or show its lit lure via a muscular skin flap.
They effectively attract marine crustaceans, fish, and other creatures by pulsing the light and swiping the bait.
Deep sea anglerfish may not encounter suitable prey on a regular basis, thus they have unusually huge mouths and stomachs, as well as sharp, pointy teeth, to help them capture and consume anything they find.
Male angler fish are much smaller than female anglerfish, and the lack of a long stalk on their heads can make it difficult for them to find food in the deep sea.
External fertilization is used in the reproduction process. The female delivers her eggs into the deep water layer, and the male acts by releasing sperm, which finds and fertilizes the eggs.
The deep ocean is a mysterious place with a variety of amazing living creatures. Alexander Semenov is a marine biologist and photographer who specializes in life under the sea. Here are some of the amazing photos of real-life deep sea creatures captured by him.
People do not eat deep sea anglerfish, and there is no indication that humans have a negative impact on their populations.
They are believed to be naturally scarce, and any changes to the deep-sea habitat might endanger this fascinating species.
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