The elephant-nosed fish, also known as the “muzzle fish,” is a species with a unique appearance resembling an elephant’s trunk. This fish lives at the bottom of aquatic environments and is primarily nocturnal in its activities.
A recently published study has uncovered how the elephant-nosed fish can “see” in the dark waters of its habitat.
This fish inhabits muddy areas in Central and West Africa, thriving in environments rich in various types of vegetation, mud, and bubbles. For years, it was believed that this species was blind.
The elephant-nosed fish has excellent vision in dark waters due to its unusual eye structure (Photo: Livescience).
However, researchers examining the retina of this species under a microscope discovered hundreds of cup-shaped proteins and light-sensitive cells. These sensory cells allow light to enter the fish’s eyes. Among them, the cone-shaped sensory cells help the fish detect red light from the sun, which is the only wavelength capable of penetrating murky water. In contrast, most blue and green light from the sun only penetrates a few centimeters.
The cup-shaped proteins form a flat layer that reflects light like a mirror, creating a red light projection area that is ten times larger than that of the cone cells. Thanks to this structure, the fish is highly sensitive to any type of light, which it then relays to its brain for analysis.
The elephant-nosed fish has a long, slender body, dark brown to black coloration, and a narrow tail…
This unusual eye structure also enhances the fish’s ability to see details and improves its vision by minimizing distractions from its environment, such as gas bubbles or sediment. Instead, the cup-shaped proteins help to focus larger moving objects within the dark area. This significant retinal advantage allows the fish to filter out unnecessary visual information.
The elephant-nosed fish has an elongated, slender body, dark brown to black coloration, a narrow tail, and a long protruding snout. This snout is used for various purposes, including foraging for food, navigation, communication with the outside world, and self-defense.
The elephant-nosed fish is quite shy and prefers to live a reclusive life.
The elephant-nosed fish features an electric organ located at its tail, which helps it accurately locate food. This species is relatively timid and prefers to remain hidden. Its diet consists of meat and various other foods such as worms and finely chopped earthworms.
