For the first time in history, a fish living at depths of thousands of meters below the ocean floor washed ashore at Cannon Beach, Oregon (USA) over the past weekend.
The Seaside Aquarium reported that beachgoers discovered this deep-sea fish, also known as the Pacific Football Fish, just south of Cannon Beach, as reported by CBS News on May 20.
Experts noted that this deep-sea fish is extremely rare, with only 31 individuals recorded in over a century since their first appearance.
The Pacific Football Fish found south of Cannon Beach. (Photo: Seaside Aquarium).
“Only 31 individuals have ever been recorded worldwide, including from New Zealand, Japan, Russia, Hawaii, Ecuador, Chile, and California (USA),” said the Seaside Aquarium.
This marks the first time a Pacific Football Fish has been documented along the Oregon coast.
Those who have watched the animated film Finding Nemo may recognize the Pacific Football Fish, as it is the species that Dory and Marlin chase due to its glowing lure.
The Pacific Football Fish is one of over 100 species of Anglerfish found globally. Scientists know that they typically dwell at depths of thousands of meters below sea level and lure prey into their mouths with the help of bioluminescent lights hanging from their heads.
Their bodies are covered in spines, and the sharp teeth of the Pacific Football Fish are used to trap fish, squid, and other crustaceans living at depths of over 1,000 meters, according to the California Academy of Sciences.
However, this description only applies to females. The males of this species serve the sole purpose of aiding the females in reproduction. The male attaches itself to the female with its teeth and becomes a “parasitic mate”. Eventually, it merges with the female’s body until it is left with nothing but testicles for reproduction.
The male is ten times smaller than the female, losing its eyes and internal organs while receiving all nutrients from the female.
“The males resemble parasites more,” the Seaside Aquarium noted, and although it’s unknown how they locate females in complete darkness without eyes, they provide the females with “a steady source of sperm.”
