It is very rare to encounter deep-sea anglerfish (Scientific name: Linophryne brevibarbata), but occasionally, trawlers catch a few. Typically, both the male and female anglerfish are caught together. There are many fascinating aspects of the world of this species.
Anglerfish live in an environment completely devoid of day and night. Surrounding them is an eternal darkness as black as ink.
In comparison to their bodies, female anglerfish have frighteningly large mouths that can easily engulf a fish nearly the same size as themselves. As a result, when they capture a “large-sized” prey, their stomachs must expand significantly.
Due to the scarcity of food at the ocean floor, females are naturally equipped with a bioluminescent organ to increase their chances of capturing prey. The “luminous lure” is waved enticingly right in front of their mouths to attract unsuspecting prey. When the moment is right, they simply open their mouths wide and swallow the entire prey.
The mouths and teeth of female anglerfish look quite intimidating: their sharp, pointed teeth protrude even when their mouths are closed. Their eyes often appear to be staring intensely ahead. The bodies of female anglerfish are round and appear quite peculiar. The “luminous lure” functions only in pitch-black environments.
In the darkness of the deep sea, the male anglerfish (tiny and equipped with sensory organs on their heads) swims in search of a female. Males do not have teeth but possess protruding parts that they use to… cling to the females. Upon contact, the male seeks to fuse its tissue with the female’s bloodstream, relying on the nutrients provided by her body. From then on, the male remains attached to the female for the rest of its life until they reach old age. This is indeed a unique form of parasitic fidelity!
The eggs are laid in the water, forming a gelatinous mass that is fertilized by the “cling-on” male. This dense mass floats to the surface, living as plankton for a while before… bidding farewell to the sun and returning to the dark ocean floor.
The male anglerfish can measure about 2 cm in length, while the female can grow to approximately 10 cm.
