After serving their mate, all parts of the male Anglerfish’s body gradually disintegrate and die, leaving behind enough testes for the female to fertilize.
The Anglerfish, a creature that lives in the deep sea, is considered one of the most bizarre and ugliest organisms on Earth. They have large heads, a “lure” that emits light resembling a headlight, and a large crescent-shaped mouth filled with sharp teeth.
Strange Hunting Methods
According to statistics, there are over 350 species of lanternfish, belonging to 72 genera within the order Lophiiformes. They predominantly inhabit areas deeper than 1.5 km below the sea surface, in the dark waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Antarctica.
Due to their harsh living environment, they have evolved both in appearance and hunting methods to adapt perfectly.
They are called lanternfish because they possess a body part resembling a “lure” that can bioluminesce, protruding from their heads.
Research shows that this light is produced by bacteria living inside the Anglerfish, helping it attract prey, usually smaller fish.
When the prey approaches, the lanternfish will extend its sharp teeth, which are always pointed upwards, to attack and swallow the unfortunate prey whole.
The Anglerfish is considered the ugliest creature on Earth.
Frightening Mating Rituals
Not only is their hunting method peculiar, but the mating behavior of Anglerfish is also described as quite bizarre, unlike any other animal, resembling scenes from horror movies.
Male Anglerfish will seek a mate and then live parasitically by attaching themselves to the female’s ventral fin to share food and mate. During mating, the male completely loses its digestive system. To absorb nutrients, it bites into the female’s flesh, forming a nearly unified entity.
This parasitic lifestyle causes the male to rely entirely on the female, sharing a digestive system. Conversely, it must always be ready to meet the female’s mating needs.
Over time, all parts of the male’s body disintegrate, leaving only the testes. Eventually, the male quickly dies, leaving behind a sufficient amount of sperm for the female to fertilize, which is absorbed through the skin via enzymes. A single female can host up to six parasitic “males,” and there can be as many as eight testes on the female’s body.
In contrast to female Anglerfish, males are very small, measuring only about 6.35 mm — approximately 500,000 times smaller than the females. When researchers observe this species, they notice that most of the females have strange swellings on both sides, which turn out to be the remnants of the males left behind.
