A team of scientists from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) recorded a strange fish of unknown species belonging to the genus Oneirodes, order Lophiiformes (Anglerfish or Anglerfish) at a depth of 781 m below the water surface. in Monterey Canyon, a massive underground canyon stretching more than 470 km off the coast of California, USA.
Female Oneirodes fish can be up to 37 cm long, males are smaller, only about 1.3 cm long.
The team stumbled upon the balloon-sized fish while using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to collect small, spiny creatures called phaeodarian.
MBARI said this is the first Oneirodes fish observed in Monterey Canyon since 2016. The fish’s skin is so dark that it absorbs such a large amount of light that it is almost impossible for viewers to see its details except the fish. except body contour.
This fish belongs to the group of “super black” deep sea creatures, capable of absorbing at least 99.5% of incoming light. The shape and structure of the melanin-containing cells in their skin allow them to absorb most wavelengths of light that fall on the skin. Even the bright light from the fish’s streetlight-like lure is completely absorbed.
This allows the Oneirodes fish to be ‘invisible’ while using a fluorescent lure that resembles a fishing rod to lure prey. This strange camouflage ability also helps Oneirodes fish hide from enemies.
According to a study, there are 15 other marine species capable of absorbing such a large amount of light
