Anglerfish Facts

Then came along the happy fish, swimming swiftly through the corals and the caves. From far it sees a light, luminous and fancy. Boy, is the light attractive or what! Let's get a closer look. Ooh... pretty! What's that... I think it's... SLURP! So much for the happy fish!..

The darkest depths of the Atlantic and Antarctic oceans are known to be the home of possibly the ugliest creature on earth - the anglerfish. There are more than 200 of these creatures residing in these parts of the world. While most of these fish prefer hiding in the lonely, lightless bottom of the sea, some can be found in shallow tropical environmental conditions. Anglerfish are generally dark brown and gray in color and they bear huge heads. They are characterized by their enormous crescent-shaped mouths filled with sharp, translucent teeth. 3.3 feet is the length which some of these fish can attain, while most of them are smaller than a foot. More facts coming up in the following.

Facts on Anglerfish

# The most important characteristic feature of the anglerfish is associated with the way it hunts down its prey. The female bears a piece of dorsal spine which has a protruding structure above its mouth. This spine is similar to a fishing pole, and it contains an irregular growth of flesh at its tip, making it an ideal lure for preys. The fish can sway the flesh in any direction desired, while keeping its body perfectly still. In deep-sea anglers, this very flesh can emit light; thanks to the fish's symbiotic relation with bacteria. So this makes the bait as some kind of a glowing food thus, improving chances of a kill. And when the prey is close enough, gulp! This mode of predation of the fish is analogous to angling thus, the name 'anglerfish'. The size of the prey does not matter, even if it is twice as that of the fish. The creature's pliable body structure allow it to swallow a prey bigger than its size thus, making it a perfect sea hunter.

# Another intriguing fact about the angler fish, is related to the male species. Unlike in the case of most land and marine animals, here the male takes a backseat when it comes to dominance. The male fish is not equipped with any luring organ like that of the female, and it is relatively smaller too; the size of the pinky. So this gives the male a hard time foraging in the sea. Also, in some males, the alimentary canals (required in digestion and elimination) do not develop fully thus, making it almost impossible for the fish to survive on its own. And that is why a male angler fish grows on a female one as a parasite. So how does this happen? Right at the time of birth, the male develops sensitive olfactory organs. This makes it easier for the male to detect the presence of a female in his vicinity. And when he does, he bites or latches onto her with his sharp teeth. Thereafter, the male releases an enzyme that works to digest the body of the female and the skin of the male's mouth. Overtime, this process goes on to a physical fusion of the pair down to the blood-vessel level. Then begins the process of the male undergoing atrophy or degeneration. Meaning, the male starts losing his digestive organs, brain, heart, eyes and all other internal organs, until eventually he is left in the form of a pair of testicles. These testicles are used to release sperm in response to the female's hormones indicating egg release. In this way, about 6 male angler fish can be borne by a single female, providing her a lifetime and immediate supply of sperm for fertilization whenever she calls the shots. Some love making it is!

# Coming to the diet of these strange creatures, they feed on almost all types of fish. They also prey on batfish, marine snails, clams, crustacea, worms, copepods and arrow worms.

So with this, we come to the end of this article that presented you with some basic facts on the angler fish. Although, there wasn't much to discus, I am certain, whatever was presented was good enough to amuse you.