Extraordinary Angler

A Scrutiny on the Extraordinary Angler Fish Features

The concept on the survival of the fittest propagated by the great Charles Darwin is not only applicable on land-based animals, as it is also very much the name of the game underwater. A peek on the peculiar creatures that freely roam in the ocean’s bottom would definitely astonish you on how they have adapted in highly unusual and strange ways in ensure survival. Deep in the farthest reaches of the ocean where no light penetrates, the angler fish presents a wonderful example on how well it has found a way to survive in a less hospitable environment.  Read on and find out the extraordinary angler fish facts that will definitely give you a whole new light on the survival instincts of deep sea fishes.

To date, there are over 200 species of angler fishes recorded from all parts of the world and scientists are hoping to discover more in future deep-water explorations. The extraordinary fish derived its name from its unique ability of fishing for its food, instead of hunting it down like all other marine animals. Similar to the human concept of fishing, the angler fish has an antenna on its head that acts like a bait, with its tip often luminous due to the presence of a certain type of bacteria. As it flashes its bait, other fishes would naturally come near to feed one the lure, thinking its just another meal the can feast on. However, unwittingly they are lead towards the waiting mouth of the extraordinary angler fish. Its mouth is overly large and equipped with sharp fangs, making it supremely easy to open all the way up to bite a large prey. With its thin bones, and flexible stomach, the body of the angler fish can easily take on a prey that is practically twice its size without much fuss. Truly a remarkable feature that makes it’s highly adaptable specie to thrive in the deep waters.

Yet another unusual adaptation of the extraordinary angler fish is its sexual dimorphism. The male attaches itself to the female to act as a parasite as well as its lifetime mate. After sometime the male degenerates and simply becomes an appendage of the female body. The reason behind this is the very fact that male angler fishes don’t have any digestive tubes and cannot therefore live independently. In order to survive, they need to find a female host or look forward to a short lived life. Now that you have a basic idea on the extraordinary angler fish features that truly makes an exceptional example of underwater’s survival of the fittest.

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