#macropinna

because they were only ever known from dead specimens dredged up from the deep.

Except when a barreleye (Macropinna microstoma) was actually filmed alive in 2008, turns out it actually has a transparent dome over its head that collapses at the surface.

The dome helps it gather even more light into those big upward-facing eyes! It’s like it’s wearing a deep sea helmet!!

And then you look at the old illustrations and realize the deflated membrane was there all along, you just didn’t realize it!

I know the blobfish is the gold standard for “fish that looks completely different at the surface” but this is one of the ones that I knew of as a kid and blew my mind when I saw the live footage.

Barreleye (Macropinna microstoma)

(Photo from MBARI)

Conservation Status- Unlisted

Habitat- Northern Pacific Ocean

Size (Weight/Length)- 10 cm

Diet- Plankton; Small jellyfish

Cool Facts- This specific species of barreleye has a completely translucent head. This fluid filled area allows for the back of its eyes to be seen. Generally, they tend to live in the ocean from around 600 to 800 meters down where they stay relatively motionless. They hunt on jellyfish that live in the deep and their strong digestive system easily breaks down any toxins they consume. Barreleyes rarely meet and are nonagressive when they do. They are rarely seen by humans expect when they are pulled up as bycatch from deep sea nets.

[id: compressed image macropinna. /end id]

Thank you Ascel for the

https://www.mbari.org/barreleye-fish-with-tubular-eyes-and-transparent-head/

hello im rini and heres my first ever Mermay contribution.....gud. night.

The Fish With Eyes Inside Its Head: What Macropinna microstoma Teaches Us About Scientific Blind Spots

This deep-sea fish has eyes inside a transparent head — and we only discovered the truth in 2009.

The Fish With Eyes Inside Its Head: What Macropinna microstoma Teaches Us About Scientific Blind Spots