![]() It is currently being held by the California Department of Fish & Wildlife. The body of the fish is expected to end up with a research or educational organization. Seeing this strange and fascinating fish is a testament to the diversity of marine life lurking below the water's surface in California's MPAs and as scientists continue to learn more about these deep sea creatures it's important to reflect on how much is still to be learned from our wonderful ocean." Wild!" "To see an actual angler fish intact is very rare and it is unknown how or why the fish ended up on the shore. Males latch onto the female with their teeth and become 'sexual parasites,' eventually coalescing with the female until nothing is left of their form but their testes for reproduction. "Only females possess a long stalk on the head with bioluminescent tips used as a lure to entice prey in the darkness of waters as deep as 3,000 feet! Their teeth, like pointed shards of glass, are transparent and their large mouth is capable of sucking up and swallowing prey the size of their own body." "While females can reach lengths of 24 inches males only grow to be about an inch long and their sole purpose is to find a female and help her reproduce. There are 18 species of giant isopods known to science. They are mostly carnivorous and feed on carcasses of whales, fish, and squid they may also prey on slow-moving animals and are known to attack trawl catches. ![]() Officials with the state park described some of the fish's attributes in a Facebook post: Giant isopods are important scavengers in the deep-sea benthic environment. The Pacific footballfish normally lives in darkness at depths up to 3,000 feet in the Pacific Ocean.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |