Published on 4/2/2007
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Viper fish
Viper fish (Mesopelagic - found at 80-1600 meters - about a mile down) are some of the most wicked looking
fish dredged up from the depths. Some of them are black as night all over with light organs (called
photophores) in strategic places on their bodies, including one on a long dorsal fin that serves as a lure
for the fish it preys upon. Some viperfish (and many other deep ocean fish species) don't have any pigment
(color) at all - they're "see through".
They also have enlarged eyes, presumably for gathering as much light as possible where there is little or
no light at all. The light organs create lights by using a chemical process called bioluminescence. Other
deep ocean fish, such as the the gulperDeep ocean anglerfish eel have a hinged skull, which can rotate
upward to swallow large prey. They also have large stomachs which can stretch to accommodate a fish much
larger than itself. The gulper eel is particularly well-known for its impossibly large mouth - big enough
to get its mouth around (and swallow!) creatures much bigger than itself. Fish that live down here must
adapt to a very low food supply, eating only "scraps" that sink down from above, or sometimes eating each
other.
Fangtooth
The fangtooth, aslo known as Anoplogaster cornuta, is a menacing looking creature that inhabits the deep
waters of the ocean. Although it may look like a monster, it only grows to a size of about six inches in
length. It has a short body and a large head. The fangtooth gets its name from the long, sharp, fang-like
teeth that line its enormous, over-sized mouth. Its gruesome appearance has earned it the name, "ogrefish".
The color of the adults ranges from dark brown to black. Juveniles look completely different. They are
light gray in color with long spines on their heads. The fangtooth is an extreme deep-water species that
lives at depths of about 16,000 feet. The pressure at these depths is intense and the water temperature is
near freezing. Food here is scarce, so the fangtooth will eat just about anything it can find. Most of its
meals probably fall from the upper depths of the ocean. The fangtooth is found throughout the world in
temperate and tropical ocean regions including the waters off the coast of Australia.
Dragonfish
The deep sea dragonfish, or Grammatostomias flagellibarba, is a ferocious predator in spite of its small
size. It is one of many species known to inhabit the deep oceans of the world. This fish grows to about six
inches in length. It has a large head and mouth equipped with many sharp, fang-like teeth. The dragonfish
has a long barbel attached to its chin. This barbel is tipped with a light-producing organ known as a
photophore.
The dragonfish uses this organ like a fishing lure, flashing it on and off and waving it back and forth.
Once an unsuspecting fish gets too close, it is snapped up in the dragonfish's powerful jaws. The
dragonfish also has photophores along the sides of its body. These light organs may be used to signal other
dragonfish during mating. They may also serve to attract and disorient prey fishes from deep below.
Dragonfishes live in deep ocean waters at depths of up to 5000 feet (1,500 meters). They are found in most
tropical regions around the world.
Angler
The deep sea angler, known also as Melanocetus johnsoni, is a grotesque-looking fish that lives in the
extreme depths of the ocean. Its round body resembles a basketball, and indeed, it looks like it could
easily swallow one. It has a large mouth likes with sharp, fang-like teeth. Its appearance has earned it a
second name of "common black devil". Despite its ferocious appearance, the angler only reaches a maximum
length of about five inches. The angler gets its name from the long, modified dorsal spine which is tipped
with a light producing organ known as a photophore.
Like many other deep-water fish, the angler uses this organ like a lure to attract its prey. It will flash
its light on and off while waving it back and forth like a fishing pole. When the prey fish gets close
enough, the angler snaps it up with its powerful jaws. A strange fact about the deep sea angler is the fact
that the male is smaller and different in appearance from the female, which is pictures above. The male of
the species is about the size of a finger and has small hook teeth, which it uses to attach itself to the
female. Once attached, its blood vessels join with that of the female and it will spend the rest of its
life joined to her like a parasite, getting all of its nourishment from her body. If the male is unable to
attach to a female, it will eventually dies of starvation. The deep sea angler is found throughout the
world at depths of over 3000 feet.
Gulper Eel
The gulper eel, known scientifically as Eurypharynx pelecanoides, is perhaps one of the most bizarre
looking creatures in the deep ocean. Its most notable attribute is the large mouth. The eel's mouth is
loosely hinged, and can be opened wide enough to swallow an animal much larger than itself. The hapless
fish is then deposited into a pouch-like lower jaw, which resembles that of a pelican.
In fact, it is sometimes referred to as the pelican eel. The gulper's stomach can also stretch to
accommodate its large meals. This giant mouth gives the eel its other common name of umbrellamouth gulper.
The eel also has a very long, whip-like tail. Specimens that have been brought to the surface in fishing
nets have been known to have their long tails tied into several knots. The gulper eel grows to a length of
about two to six feet and is found in all of the world's oceans at depths ranging from 3000 to 6000 feet.
Giant Squid
The elusive giant squid, known to science as Architeuthis dux, is one of the world's largest animals,
reaching a length of up to 60 feet. It is the largest known invertebrate in the world. The giant squid is a
mollusk and is member of the cephalopod class, which includes the octopus and other squids. Very little is
known about these mysterious animals because none have been seen alive in the wild. Most of what we know
about them comes from the bodies of dead squid that have washed ashore or been pulled up in fishermen's
nets. These animals are carnivores, and will eat just about anything they can catch. During World War II,
stories from the survivors of sunken ships tell of shipmates being eaten by these creatures in the dark of
night. There have even been reports of giant squid reaching out of the water and pulling men off small
boats. None of these reports have been officially verified, but they paint a picture of a powerful
predator. The squid's eight long tentacles have strong suction cups, which they use to hold on to their
prey. A sharp, powerful beak finishes off their helpless victim with eerie efficiency. The giant squid
appears to be a favorite meal for the sperm whale. They have been found in the stomachs of dead whales and
many these whales bear scars from the squid's suction-cupped tentacles.
Giant Isopod
The giant isopod, known scientifically as Bathynomus giganteus, is the largest known member of the isopod
family. It is very closely related to the small pillbugs that you can find in the garden. It is a
carnivorous crustacean that spends its time scavenging the deep ocean floor. Food is extremely scarce at
these great depths, so the isopod has adapted to eat what ever happens to fall to the ocean floor from
above. It will also feed on some of the small invertebrates that live at these depths.
Giant isopods are known to reach a size of over 16 inches in length and are one of the largest members of
the crustacean family. These animals are very prehistoric in appearance. When threatened, the can roll
themselves into a tight ball where they are protected by their strong, armor-plated shells. They have
complex mouths that contain many components that work together to pierce, shred, and disembowel live or
dead prey. Giant isopods are all over the world at depths of over 2000 feet.
Coffinfish
The coffinfish (B.melanostomus) has a flabby body and long tail that are both covered with small spines. It
has a black mouth lining and an illicium (glossary) on the snout that can be lowered into a groove.
This species grows to at least 10cm in length.
B.melanostomus has been trawled in the Central to Eastern Indian Ocean at depths ranging from 1320m to
1760m. The name melanostomus comes from the Greek melanos meaning black and stoma meaning mouth. There are
two genera in the family Chaunacidae; Bathychaunax and Chaunax. Bathychaunax differs from Chaunax by having
a lower lateral line count, longer ilicium, a wider head, more widely spaced body spines and several
skeletal characters.
Vampire squid
The vampire squid, known to scientists as Vampyroteuthis infernalis, looks more like something that swam
out of a late-night science fiction movie. The squid has large fins at the to of its body that resemble
large ears. It is very gelatinous in form, resembling a jellyfish more than the common squid. The vampire
squid has the largest eyes of any animal. It is a small animal, growing to a length of about six inches,
bit it has globular eyeballs as large as the eyes of a large dog. The vampire squid's body is covered with
light-producing organs called photophores. This gives the squid the unique ability to "turn itself on or
off" at will.
When the photophores are off, the squid is completely invisible in the dark waters where it lives. These
squid live as deep as 3000 feet. Unlike other squid and octopi, the vampire squid has no ink sack. The
vampire squid's arms are covered with sharp tooth-like spikes. This gives the animal its name. One pair of
arms has been modified into retractile filaments that can extend to twice the body length of the animal.
The squid may use these arms to capture its prey. When threatened, the squid can draw its arms up over
itself and form a defensive web that covers its body. The vampire squid can swim extremely fast for a
gelatinous animal. It can reach a speed of 2 body lengths per second and can accelerate to this speed in
only 5 seconds. If danger is present, it can make several quick turns in an attempt to escape its enemies.
The vampire squid is found throughout the world in most tropical and temperate regions.
Long-nosed Chimaera
Biologists have gone to great lengths to describe the long-nosed chimaera, Harriotta raleighana, whose kind
can reach five feet in length. Its stiletto-like nose reminded one of "the nose contour of a supersonic jet
aircraft." Others have dubbed it "rattail," for obvious reasons. In South Africa, it is known as the "ghost
shark," though it is only distantly related to sharks. A touch of the venomous spine on the first dorsal
fin can kill a person, though such a fate is unlikely given the 8,000-foot depths at which this creature
lives.
Reader Contributions
Barreleye by Attan on 10/15/2009 In the weird blackness of the deep sea, a fish with the luring sight must be the transparent head an(...)
Deep-sea stargazer by Dragonboy on 8/12/2009 Stargazers are a family of muscular bulldog-like fishes that typically bury in the seafloor and ambu(...)
Viper fish
Fangtooth
Dragonfish
Angler
Gulper Eel
Giant Squid
Giant Isopod
Coffinfish
Vampire squid
Long-nosed Chimaera
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