Anglerfish

The anglerfish gets its name from the shiny bait which they use as a tool to attract the other fish and crustaceans they eat. These terrible hunters lurked in the depths of the ocean silently. Many marine authors mentioned that they were ambush predators, hovering in the dark and waiting for their prey to approach. Then, they use the built-in fishing rod to lure the unfortunate animal, moving, hiding and exposing their bait to lure potential prey until they are close enough to be inhaled. 

The deep sea angler fish are relatively rich and diverse, but their glowing bacterial symbiosis remains a mystery. The genomes of the two species of symbionts share the common characteristics of host-dependent, vertically propagating bacteria. However, many characteristics indicate that these symbionts can be acquired by the environment. To determine how the anglerfish symbiote spreads, we analyzed the co-divergence of bacterial hosts in six different genera of anglerfish.

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Most of the anglerfish species surveyed shared a common species of symbiont. Only one other symbiont species was found, which had a specific relationship with one anglerfish species, Cryptopsaras couesii. Host and symbiont phylogenies lacked congruence, and there was no statistical support for codivergence broadly. We also recovered symbiont-specific gene sequences from water collected near hosts, suggesting environmental persistence of symbionts.

Angler Fish Size

The deep sea anglerfish, also known as Melanostatus johnsoni, has a strange appearance and lives in the deepest part of the ocean. The deep sea angler fish, also known as the angler fish, the angler fish size is medium (7 inches/18 cm) and it lives deep in the ocean. 

The anglerfish is a peculiar-looking bony fish composed of a sequence similar to lop ears and more than 15 families. The exact number of families is still disputed, and some groups have identified 18 families and 16 other families under the same order. 

In 1833, an almost perfect spherical fish washed ashore from Greenland and was taken to Copenhagen, Denmark, by the zoologist Johannes Christopher Hagemann Reinhardt (Johannes Christopher Hagemann Reinhardt). This fish, later known as the football fish, Himantophus Greenlandic or mangobbler, was the first angler fish known to the scientific community. Evolutionary and systemic biologist Ted Pietsch wrote in his book Marine Rape (University of California Press, 2009). 

A biology professor Mackenzie Gerringer from Newyork, who specializes in deep sea marine lives, told Live Science that today there are about 170 known species in the 12 deep sea anglerfish families, and there is a great diversity in these families. Common names for angler fish hint at some of the wild forms it can take: ratchet devil, wolf trap, and aggressive dreamer (also called a tyrannical toad), to name a few. 

They have a variety of wonderful shapes and textures; some are round (Melanocetus johnson), while others are flat, large-nosed (Thaumatichthys Bingham) or covered with whiskers (Caulophryne Jordan). But although these fish are found all over the world, they are quite elusive solitary creatures; this is normal for fish that live between 300 and 5000 meters (1,000 to 16,400 feet) below the surface. As a result, new species are still being discovered, and each species is stranger than the last. 

The deep sea anglerfish include 11 branches of the Ceratioidea superfamily. Unlike other fishermen, they do not have pelvic fins and swim, although weak, instead of living on the bottom of the sea. They can be up to 4 feet which are around 1.2 meters long, but most are much smaller. Only women have fishing rods. From short to long, the bait almost always shines, from plain to gorgeous. In some species, there are other light-emitting organs. 4,444 deep sea fishermen feed on various fish and invertebrates. 

As we all know, some people will swallow prey larger than themselves. Among all deep sea anglerfish, males are much smaller than females and lack fishing gear. Three families are known for the fact that males live as permanent parasites with their spouses. In these species, males attach to females by biting. His mouth merged with her skin, and the bloodstreams of the two fish connected. After that, the male fish was completely dependent on the female for its nutrition.

Deep Sea Anglerfish

The feeding strategy of the anglerfish explains their bodies. Because they don't actively hunt, they haven't become fast swimmers yet, which is why many body types have spotted, non-hydrodynamic shapes. National Geographic even says that the anglerfish is probably the ugliest animal on the planet (although the dropped fish wants a word). At the bottom of the sea, there are very few foods. 

One of the famous marine enthusiasts has quoted that in Oceanic Anglerfishes that most of the biggest angler fish examined had an empty stomach. Therefore, when the anglerfish finds a meal, it will eat it to the end. Gerringer said that an angler fish's mouth is usually the largest part of its body, and if a meal fits in the mouth, it can fit on the body. Many anglerfish’s stomachs can stretch twice as long. 

Many species of anglerfish live in the ocean. But most of the attention is focused on the deepwater varieties. So far, scientists have identified 168 strange and elusive fish. Many videos shot by deep sea divers add extraordinary drama and insight to the scarce but fascinating existing knowledge system. 

Clarence P. Idyll, a fisheries biologist at the University of Miami, said in the 1964 book The Abyss that the tip of a fishing rod can emit yellow, yellow-green, blue-green, and ribbons, purple-orange. He wrote that deep sea creatures will definitely find that these coloured light rays glow faintly in the dark water, which is irresistible. 

Speciation produced a wide variety of prominent lights and bars. Some anglerfish have a long strip extending from the lower jaw and a lower leg on it. One species, Lasiognathus saccostoma, not only carries a movable pole, but also extends from the pole a string, afloat, and ignited bait, and three hooks. Unfortunately, Dr. Idir wrote, hooks are not used to catch prey, but only for decoration. anglerfish, he pointed out, few men have such big fists. But a specimen 2.2 miles from West Africa is one and a half feet long. It's also unusual to put the glowing bait conveniently into its huge mouth. 

The largest known deep sea fisherman is the wart-bering sea monster. Females are typically around two and a half feet long, while free-swimming males are less than half an inch. Inspection of the stomach contents showed that the fishermen were feeding on shrimp, squid, worms and lanternfish, a common deep sea fish with large eyes and a highly developed visual system, which can clearly distinguish colours.

Angler Fish Characteristics

Let us now have a look at a few salient features of the deep sea anglerfish such as the angler fish size, habitat, diet and the reproduction system of the anglerfish. The deep sea anglerfish are found to be very mysterious creatures due to their appearance. The population of the deep sea anglerfish remained unaffected due to less human interaction. 

1. Anglerfish Anatomy (Angler Fish Size):

Species that live near the ocean floor have a compressed back and abdomen body. This means they have shorter bodies and wider sides, almost as if someone had pressed them on the bottom of the sea. Free-swimming species compress more laterally, which means their sides are taller and narrower. 

The length of anglerfish is between 20 cm and 1 meter. They are dark grey or dark brown, with smooth skin, which can reflect blue light and make vision difficult. They have two small eyes on either side of their head, but they are rarely used because there is almost no light in the depths of their lives. The male anglerfish has the highest proportion of nostrils of any creature on the planet, and it uses it to find the pheromone emitted by the female. Anglerfish do not have ears because they are not suitable for ears. 

2. Habitat: 

Nearly 210 different species of real angler fish live in almost all marine habitats. Some are only found in the depths of the sea and others are found near the coast. Some species live on coral reefs, while others live on sandy bottoms. The strangest species are usually deep sea creatures, and some can live 3,000 feet below the surface of the sea. 

The deep sea angler fish is scientifically known as Melanostatus johnson, this species adapts to the dark seabed, where sunlight does not reach. Also, the water is almost at freezing temperature. As a result, food is scarce at such depths and these fish are not eaten every day. 

Species belonging to the Antanaridae family inhabit shallow waters; although the categories classified in the Ogocospalidae family (for example, Bathophys) exist in shallow and deep waters. The deep sea anglerfish species included in the Chaunachidae family (such as sea toads) and the Lophidae family (such as goosefish) are said to live in deep waters. Since most anglerfish live deep in the ocean, it is difficult for marine biologists to study their habitat, feeding, reproduction, and other factors. 

3. Distribution of Deep Sea Anglerfish: 

Different species have different distribution ranges. Combined, these creatures can be found almost everywhere in the world. Some species are only found in a small part of the ocean, while others are more international and can be found all over the world. For example, deep sea anglerfish are found in the ocean below 3,000 feet, but black-bellied anglerfish are only found in the Mediterranean. 

4. Deep Sea Anglerfish Diet: 

These carnivores feed on a variety of fish, crustaceans and cephalopods. Especially in a deepwater environment, it's not good to be picky! They have big mouths and can swallow prey almost as big as them. Some commonly eaten foods include small fish, squid, snails, shrimp, etc. Each species has different prey, and they often prey, depending on their range and eating habits.

5. The Behaviour of the Deep Sea Anglerfish:

The behaviour of these fish varies based on the species. In general, these creatures are either benthic or pelagic. Benthic species live on the seafloor and are generally ambush predators. Pelagic species swim freely, but for the most part, are also ambush predators. They will drift in wait while their lure draws prey to them, and when it gets close enough they swallow it whole.

6. Reproduction:

Life on the high seas is tough, so many fish have special adaptations there to improve their ability to feed and mate. The deep sea anglerfish may not come across suitable prey very often, so it has a very large mouth and very large stomach and long, sharp teeth to easily catch and swallow anything they find. . They also have a lure that, like all anglers, they use to lure their prey. Deep sea fishing lures are filled with bacteria that produce their own light. By using muscular skin, the deep sea angler can hide or reveal his lighted lure. By emitting light and moving their bait back and forth, they successfully attract floating crustaceans, fish and other prey. 

The lure is also used to attract mates. The only individuals that match the above description are females. Females are large ambush predators; females have a light bait. Males are very small (one inch / three centimetres) and are not predators. After hatching, they devote all their energy to finding a mate, biting the larger females and fertilizing their eggs. 

In many species of anglerfish, the male is parasitized and never freed from his mate, he feeds on his blood and becomes a sperm factory. However, this is not the case with deep-sea fishermen. After only brief copulation, the male breaks free and seeks another mate. 

Although they form these close bonds during mating, reproduction always takes place by external fertilization. The female lays her eggs in the deep water column and the male immediately releases his sperm to locate and fertilize the egg. 

The deep sea anglerfish can not be eaten by humans, and there is no evidence that humans have any negative effects on their populations. However, they can be very rare in the wild, and any change in the deep sea environment could threaten this interesting species.

7. Population:

According to current research, nearly 200 varieties of deep sea anglerfish have been identified, most of them inhabited in the dusky depths of the Atlantic and Antarctic oceans, up to a mile below the surface, at the same time few of them live in shallow, tropical environments. 

Usually, they are dark grey to dark brown in colour with huge heads and largest angler fish are of crescent-shaped mouths filled with sharp, translucent teeth.

8. The Deep Sea Anglerfish Lure:

Their most characteristic and peculiar feature, worn only by females, is a piece of dorsal spine that extrudes above their mouths like a fishing pole, hence their name. Tipped with a lure of luminous flesh (angler fish light) this built-in rod baits prey close enough to be snatched. Their mouths are so big and their bodies so pliable, they can actually swallow prey up to twice their own size.

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9. Male and Female Deep Sea Anglerfish:

The male, which is significantly smaller than the female, has no need for such an adaptation. In lieu of continually seeking the vast abyss for a female, it has evolved into a permanent parasitic mate. When a young, free-swimming male angler encounters a female angler fish, he latches onto her with his sharp teeth. Over time, the male physically fuses with the female, connecting to her skin and bloodstream and losing his eyes and all his internal organs except the testes. A female will carry six or more males on her body.

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Conclusion

The deep sea anglerfish is one of the most bizarre-looking fish in the sea. Known scientifically as Melanocetus johnson, it is also one of the best-known creatures of the deep. It is one of about 200 species of anglerfish found throughout the world's oceans. Of these, there are several dozen species that inhabit the deepest parts of the ocean. 

The angler gets its name from the elongated dorsal spine that supports a light-producing organ known as a photophore. Through a chemical process known as bioluminescence, this photophore can produce a blue-green light similar to that of a firefly on land. The anglerfish uses this appendage like a fishing lure, waving it back and forth to attract its prey. It lies still waiting for its hapless prey to wander close enough then gulps it down with lightning speed.