At first, it appears like a comet burning a copper flame past distant stars, glimmering on its downward trajectory into the unknown. But instead, we find ourselves in the darkest fathoms of the deep sea, observing one of the rarest creatures to ever be captured on film.
Last week the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute shared footage of a highfin dragonfish, Bathophilus flemingicaptured far below the California coast from a remote research vessel.
“In more than three decades of deep-sea research and more than 27,600 hours of video, we’ve only seen this particular species four times!” researchers at the MBARI tweeted alongside footage of the fish.
Closer inspection of dragonfish (family Stomiidae) reveal an HR Giger-like monstrosity, with enormous fanged jaws able to open wide, over 100 degrees, giving the apex predator the ability to consume prey 50% larger than itself, such as unsuspecting fish and crustaceans . An adult highfin dragonfish can grow up to six inches long.
“Some dragonfishes dangle a luminescent lure from their chins to entice prey,” the MBARI says, “when a tasty morsel comes close, their big jaws open wide, and sharp teeth snap shut.”
The rare highfin dragonfish, recently photographed in the depths of Monterey Bay.
MBARIThe rare highfin dragonfish seen last week is covered in an iridescent cloak of bronze scales. Most dragonfish, however, will never be seen, as they are pigmented with what the institute describes as some of “the blackest blacks known in nature.”
While the species are believed to sometimes plunge down to 4,500 feet below the surface, the recent sighting was found at a depth of around 1,000 feet during an expedition on the Western Flyer — a large ship set up to deploy and control smaller remote vehicles that dive thousands of feet into the ocean.
Learn more about the strange, elusive creature here.