Researchers Release Rare Footage of Goosefish, or “Sea Devil,” Walking on the Ocean Floor.
The “Sea Devil” walking on the ocean floor. (Video: Live Science)
New footage captured at a depth of 373 meters in the waters surrounding the Galapagos Islands shows the sea devil utilizing its pectoral and pelvic fins to take steady steps across the coral reef, Live Science reported on November 1. The experts obtained this footage during an expedition organized by the Schmidt Ocean Institute, Galápagos National Park, and the Charles Darwin Foundation in October, aimed at mapping the vertical coral reefs of Galapagos.
The strange creature featured in the video is the goosefish, or “sea devil”, belonging to the family Lophiidae within the order Anglerfish (Lophiiformes), although its exact species remains unclear. Goosefish can live at depths of up to 900 meters. They have a large head relative to their short, slender body, typically brownish-red with mottled patterns and covered in stiff hair-like structures.
Fishermen call the goosefish “sea devil” due to its bizarre appearance.
The fins of the goosefish are jointed, allowing them to rotate and function similarly to feet. Its wide mouth enables it to swallow prey larger than itself. Fishermen refer to the goosefish as the “sea devil” because of its strange appearance. They can grow up to 1.4 meters in length and weigh around 22 kilograms.
Goosefish possess distinctive “lures” on their heads designed to attract prey. They will lie in wait, and when prey approaches, they dart forward, using all their stored energy to capture it. They primarily feed on fish but will also consume crustaceans like lobsters. The backward-facing teeth of the goosefish prevent prey from escaping.
“One remarkable feature of the goosefish is its body optimized for a low-energy lifestyle“, said Jethro Reading, a deep-sea fish expert from the University of Southampton. He added that they do not waste energy fleeing from predators but instead hide on the ocean floor.
Their ability to walk underwater is another way to save energy. “In the video, their clumsy and ungraceful gait, even when disturbed by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), demonstrates just how little energy they expend. Their anatomy is suited for explosive bursts of action,” Reading explained.
