Scientists Capture Extremely Rare Footage of a Black Seadevil

A research team in the Canary Islands documented an extraordinarily rare sighting of a black seadevil anglerfish, marking only the second time the species has been observed alive.

“It was like a dream come true,” said David Jara Bogunyà, a marine wildlife photographer with NGO Condrik Tenerife. Jara and his colleagues aboard the vessel Glaucus spent an hour swimming alongside and photographing the elusive deep-sea creature, which typically resides between 650 and 6,500 feet below the ocean’s surface.

A Rare and Astonishing Sighting

Black seadevils (Melanocetus johnsonii), whose genus name translates to “black sea monster,” are known for their gaping jaws, sharp fangs, and bioluminescent lures that attract prey. Despite their intimidating appearance, they measure only about six inches long.

The footage quickly gained attention from scientists, who were amazed at the sighting. Kory Evans, a fish biologist at Rice University, was initially skeptical: “When I first saw the video, I honestly didn’t believe what I was seeing. I thought it was A.I.”

Bruce Robison, a senior scientist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, emphasized the rarity of the event. “It’s a really rare event to see a deep-sea critter like that close to the surface.” Robison was also responsible for capturing the only other known footage of a living black seadevil, which was recorded at 1,900 feet by the remotely operated vehicle Doc Ricketts in Monterey Bay in 2014.

Why Did the Black Seadevil Appear Near the Surface?

Scientists remain uncertain about what prompted the black seadevil to swim so close to the surface. Evans noted the unexpected nature of the fish's behavior, as these deep-sea dwellers are typically ambush predators that remain motionless, bobbing in the water while waiting for prey.

“Their whole deal is not moving,” Evans explained. “They kind of sit there, so seeing this one actively swimming is shocking.”

Although the exact cause remains unknown, researchers continue to analyze potential explanations for this extraordinary event.

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