Extremely Rare Sighting Of Humpback Anglerfish Near Tenerife Coast
Posted by:
David Jara Bogunya
Occurred on January 26, 2025 / Tenerife Island, Spain
Info from Licensor: ""Could this be the world's first recorded sighting of an adult black devil or abyssal anglerfish (Melanocetus johnsonii) alive, in broad daylight, and on the surface? A legendary fish that few people will have had the privilege of observing alive. Apparently, the existing records to date correspond to larvae, dead adult specimens, or filmed with submarines. Emerging from the abyssal depths in vertical swimming, just 2 km off the coast of Tenerife and during one of our pelagic shark research campaigns, @laiavlr detected this being on the surface. Immediately afterwards, @vidamarina.tenerife , @sabu726 , and @jara.natura recorded spectacular and unusual images of the animal. It is a true deep-sea predator, which lives on the seabed between 200 and 2000m deep and uses its dorsal appendage full of bioluminescent symbiotic bacteria as a warning. The Melanocetus is a species of sea monster that is used as bait to attract prey, just like in the popular movie Finding Nemo. The reason for its presence in such shallow waters is uncertain. It may be due to illness, an updraft, fleeing a predator, etc. Its genus Melanocetus literally means 'black sea monster,' a name that is not surprising with these images. Widely distributed, it inhabits tropical and subtropical seas around the world, being cited for the first time on the coasts of Madeira. This surprising discovery did not leave the crew indifferent and will be remembered forever. Credit: Instagram: @jara.natura in collaboration with non profit organization @condrik_tenerife"
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