The Humpback Anglerfish is a Deep-Sea Oddity

by Dani Garduno, age 12

Many are unfamiliar with the critters that live deep in the oceans, there are many various species of marine life and other life forms. One of those life forms is the Humpback Anglerfish, which is a species that looks angry and terrifying. Living 3,000 feet below sea level, this “ugly fish” has features that are unique for its size and environment.

Male Humpback Anglerfish are about three centimeters long, and females are about eighteen centimeters long. Both are very light and do not swim in the water, instead, they wobble around. These “sea devils” have bodies that are normally dark, with the color of gray, black, and brown. Their heads are humongous and their mouths are filled with jagged and sharp teeth. This makes their nostrils and eyes seem big. The anglerfish usually has four fins, although on rare occasions it can have three or five. The environment of the fish is extremely dark, as they live so deep under the water, which also makes the temperatures unbearable. This fish is usually found in the South and East China Seas.

The Humpback Anglerfish has a unique reproduction system. The males are specifically designed to find females to mate with. The Anglerfish follow their scent in the dark. Once the female is found, the male uses its teeth to suck the female's blood. After the mating process, the female lays its eggs, and the male leaves, releasing its sperm to fertilize the eggs.

Like humans, the Humpback Anglerfish needs to find food. Males are not very predatory. On the other hand, females are predatorial and dominant. The female

hunts fiercely, but males prefer to lure their prey instead of attacking directly. They sit and wait for their prey to get closer and use their glowing lure made of bioluminescent plankton to attract their prey. The Humpback Anglerfish’s diet consists of small fishes, crustaceans, shrimp, mantis shrimp, squid, turtles, and more. When the Anglerfish captures food in its mouth, it uses its sharp teeth to prevent its prey from escaping. They swallow their prey alive and whole.

The Humpback Anglerfish is a unique species of fish and an interesting one to study. Scientists have discovered that their population does not increase or decrease but remains steady. However, some things are still to be discovered, like unknown predators. People who are up for a hard challenge continue to study these creatures and travel to the depths of the sea to observe their characteristics.

[Source: Animal Spot]