How Deep Sea Fish Use Light to Survive in the Dark

by Edna Torres, age 6

Many deep sea fish use light-producing organs to survive since the sun cannot reach the deeper level of the sea.

There are many fish that live in the deep sea, like lanternfish, hatcherfish, and anglerfish. These fish are intriguing and interesting because they don’t act like typical fish.

Deep sea fish obtain food by using their organs to make light, these are called photophores. This ability is called bioluminescence. Angler fish have a small bioluminescent lure to attract prey. Some fish don’t have eyes, so they use their other sense, like their ears, to hunt down senses.

Most of the animals that live in the deep sea are smaller than other fish. Since food is limited, this forces their bodies to adapt to lower food portions, leading to their smaller sizes. However, there are some deep sea fish that have larger stomachs that adapt easily to any prey. Some deep sea creatures will even eat the body of a fish that is already dead.

Deep sea animals are so interesting,g and there is much more to learn about these animals!

[Source: The Ultimate Guide to the Animal Kingdom]