We know that very strange creatures live in the depths of the ocean. Among the life forms that have been discovered in the depths and look almost alien, the species that perhaps tops the list of strangeness is named “barreleye fish”. Located at depths that most light cannot reach, this truly bizarre fish has a transparent head that allows it to effectively peer through its “glass ceiling” while navigating pitch-black waters.
A new video released by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) showcases this fish in stunning resolution.
Image taken using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) shows a barreleye fish (Macropinna microstoma) swimming near California. Such videos require the use of ROVs for barreleye living at a depth of 600 to 800 meters, well beyond the reach of land-dwelling humans. The ROV was moving calmly underwater as part of an expedition aboard the Rachel Carson research vessel.
According to the video, “MBARI’s remotely operated vehicles Ventana and Doc Ricketts have performed more than 5,600 successful dives and recorded over 27,600 hours of video – but this fish has only been encountered nine times.”
When it comes to locating a barreleye fish’s eyes, the visual spheres aren’t actually the two indentations you see in the normal eye position, but actually bright green balls that stand a little further back. The circles in the front are actually olfactory organs that can “smell” chemical cues in the water.
MBARI says the function of the strange positioning of the eyes is to spy on prey, which siphonophores will sometimes steal from their dangling tentacles. As ultra-sensitive tubular eyes, they are incredibly well adapted to detect silhouettes of edible animals against the tiny amounts of light going to these depths.
In the past, barreleye fish were thought to be constantly pointing upwards, but it has since been found to be able to turn forward while eating. Having a transparent head brings advantages such as being able to look in almost every direction from the transparent visor where your eyes sit and being able to see it from your own mouth.
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