#melanocetus

Melanocetus johnsonii specimen found 2 km off the coast of Tenerife while a group of researchers were observing pelagic sharks.

Anglerfish normally live in the bathypelagic and mesopelagic zones (200-2000 meters deep),

A Rare Black Sea-Devil Anglerfish Sees the Light

A viral video shows a denizen of the ocean’s twilight zone making an unusual trip to the surface

March 2025

The deep ocean is a world of extremes—intense pressure, frigid temperatures, and perpetual darkness. It is also home to astonishing life forms, uniquely adapted to survive in conditions that would be unfathomable for most creatures. Among these is the black seadevil anglerfish, Melanocetus johnsonii, a species so elusive it once seemed more folklore than fact. Recently, however, a remarkable sighting off the coast of the Spanish island of Tenerife provided scientists—and the world—a fleeting but invaluable look at this deep ocean predator far from its usual home. When footage of the black seadevil anglerfish appeared online, it quickly became a viral sensation, captivating audiences and igniting widespread curiosity. Typically found in the twilight zone at depths of 200 to 1,500 meters, this wayward anglerfish was seen swimming near the surface moments before its death—an exceedingly rare event...

uh oh. Girl get back down there what are you doing

Rare Angler Fish (Melanocetus sp.) caught on video!

Murray's Abyssal Anglerfish - Melanocetus murrayi

Also known as Black Seadevil, Melanocetus murrayi (Lophiiformes - Melanocetidae) is certainly a strange deep-sea fish living at depths of 100-2,700 m.

Female of this species (photo) has a protruding, fleshy, luminous bait used for attracting smaller fish for her to eat. This glowing bait is activated by bioluminescence, involving light-producing chemical reactions in symbiotic bacteria.

In stark contrast to the female, the male is dwarfed, less than 3 cm in length, and spends his life attached to the tissues of the female. When the attached male loses his gut, he essentially transforms into a boob of testicles on the skin of the female, and under her hormonal commands, the remnants of the male release sperm upon request. However, the attachment does not involve fusion of male-female tissue and is therefore not considered to be a parasitic association.

Melanocetus murrayi has a wide horizontal distribution in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and in the Gulf of Mexico.

References: [1] - [2] - [3]