Researchers working in the Gulf of Mexico have discovered a never-before-seen species of anglerfish, collecting three female specimens of the new creatures at depths of between 3280 and 5000 feet (1000-1500 meters), according to new research published on Thursday.
Writing in the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists journal Copeia, Dr. Tracey Sutton of Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and his colleagues explained that the creature represents a new species of Ceratioid anglerfish (Lasiognathus Regan).
“The three specimens were collected as part of an NOAA-supported study to find out what lives deep in the Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which occurred at 1500m depth,” Dr. Sutton told redOrbit via email. “Before the spill, we had very little data on what lives at these depths. This finding highlights the general lack of information about what lives at these depths in the Gulf of Mexico, and the world ocean in general.”
Dr. Sutton formally described the new creature with the assistance of Dr. Theodore Pietsch from the University of Washington. The three female specimens ranged in size from 30 to 95mm long, and lived so deep in the water that there is not sunlight – the only light is from creatures that can produce bioluminescence, or generate their own light source.
Species has unusual jaws, rigid “hooks” instead of soft “lures”
Furthermore, the researchers explained that at these depths, the pressure is immense (more than one ton per square inch) and the battle over food is constantly ongoing. For this reason, the fish developed the capability to use a fishing pole-like appendage on top of their heads to attract prey. By dangling their appendage, they are able to trap fish seeking out a meal of their own.
What makes this new anglerfish species so unique? According to Dr. Sutton, they have “never been seen alive, but based on the form of the upper jaws (‘inside out’ with teeth sticking exterior to the mouth), one would think the prey capture mechanism must be fascinating, perhaps like the closing of a venus fly-trap. Again, this is pure speculation based on its anatomy.”
“Its lure is also unique among anglers,” he told redOrbit. “The ‘hooks’ are actually rigid, whereas other anglerfishes have soft ‘lures.’ This species was identified as unique by the form of its ‘lure,’ which was quite different from the other species in the genus, but very consistent among the three specimens we collected. I would also note that none of the species of the genus Lasiognathus had ever previously been known for the Gulf of Mexico.”
Dr. Sutton, who is also a steering committee member of the Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative, added, “Industry is going deeper and deeper to find resources, and with that comes risk. One of our biggest issues is that we do not know what all lives at these depths, creating the possibility that we could eradicate or impact biodiversity that is unknown to us… The oceans midwaters are by far Earth’s largest ecosystems. We need to know more about them.”
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Feature Image: This is the new anglerfish — Lasiognathus regan. (Credit: Theodore Pietsch, Ph.D. University of Washington)
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