For the barreleye fish, life is all about looking up! These fish are famous for their unique, transparent heads and inset, bright green eyes, which are typically fixed up toward the surface. Researchers believe that the eyes' tubular shape acts like a telescope, focusing on far-off objects, and the green hue helps them to filter out sunlight and spot the bioluminescent glow of passing prey. But once it spots a potential meal, the barreleye can actually rotate its eyes forward to stay fixed on target long enough to snatch it!
(Image: A Pacific barreleye fish (Macropinna microstoma) by 2004 MBARI)
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Anatomy: large eyes; additional cartilage and gill rakers on the fifth ceratobranchial act similarly to a gizzard; no or very little teeth; no or physoclistous gas bladder; dorsal fin located on the second half of the body; some have an adipose fin; silvery or dark coloration; some are bioluminescent
Diet: zooplankton, particularly krill and copepods
Habitat/Range: oceans worldwide, live close to the sea floor; some found down to 2,500 m (8,202 ft) deep
Evolved in: Early Cretaceous
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Voting ended onJul 4, 2025
Propaganda under the cut:
The Barreleyes (family Opisthoproctidae) (image 1, 4, and gif), also called Spookfish, are perhaps the most famous family within the Argentiniformes for their bizarre appearance. Barreleyes have large, barrel-shaped, tubular eyes which are usually oriented upwards to detect the silhouettes of prey, but can also be directed forwards. These eyes are enclosed within a large transparent dome of soft tissue, looking like a clear, gelatinous helmet. This giant “lens” presumably allows the eyes to collect even more incident light, as well as protects the fish’s eyes from the stinging cells of siphonophores, from which barreleyes are believed to steal food.
Species within the barreleye genera Dolichopteryx, Opisthoproctus, and Winteria have a number of luminous organs; Dolichopteryx has several along the length of its belly, and Opisthoproctus has a single organ in the form of a rectal pouch. These organs glow with a weak light due to the presence of symbiotic bioluminescent bacteria, specifically Photobacterium phosphoreum.
The Javelin Spookfish (Bathylychnops exilis) is the longest species of barreleye at 50 centimetres (20 in) long. Most species are much smaller, less than 20 centimetres (7.9 in). The Javelin Spookfish is also known as the “four-eyed fish” due to its unique eyes. They have two spherical eyes that are dorsally directed and two secondary eyes that are ventrally directed, each with their own lens and retina. It has been suggested that the purpose of these eyes is for detection of threats from below, since the extra eyes point downwards.
The Brownsnout Spookfish (Dolichopteryx longipes) is the only vertebrate known to use a mirror (as well as a lens) in its eyes for focusing images.
The largest Argentiniform is the Greater Argentine (Argentina silus), which can reach up to a length of 70.0 centimetres (27.6 in). Greater Argentines form large schools close to the sea floor and are often caught and sold as seafood, usually processed into fish meal.
The Stout Blacksmelt (Pseudobathylagus milleri) (image 3) is also called the Owlfish due to its large eyes, which are much larger than other species within its family, Bathylagidae.
This is a more newly established order that was once included within the Osmeriformes (“true smelts”), along with the Alepocephaliformes (“slickheads” and “tubeshoulders”), but has since been found to be a much more basal lineage. As such, its position on the Actinopterygiian tree may be subject to change, and the families currently included within it may fluctuate. Hopefully not until after this tournament is over…
I have to say I adore the poll option being "I have now" it delights me every time I get to press it because I saw a new creature!! Also may I request my beloved the barreleye fish <3
Have you seen a barreleye fish (Family: Opisthoproctidae)?
I have now
Yes, in photos/videos
Yes, irl
I'm not sure
Voting ended onAug 13, 2025
The first photo, of Dolichopteryx longipes is thanks to OCEANA. Second photo, of Macropinna microstoma, is thanks to MBARI.
The fish in the first image is about 7in long, the second reaches about six inches long. There are many species in the family.
dolichopteryx longipes is considered by most to be quite the anomalous gal, mostly due to her having sinister and mysterious mirrors next to her eyes!
while she mostly uses them to spot good deals on seafood and look at people from weird and funny angles, when the need comes she does use them for more 'serious' things like egregious multitasking
Glasshead Barreleye (Rhynchohyalus natalensis)
"[F]ound in the oceanic 'twilight zone', [this species] has bi-directed eyes capable of seeing above and below. The barreleye has a conventional refractive lens on top of its head to see predators and prey that are silhouetted against the dim light filtering down from above. It also has a curved mirror-like lens and retina that sees the flashes of bioluminescence from fishes and invertebrates to the side and below. The red arrows in the lower right figure indicate the notch in the cornea of the 'second eye.'"
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