MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) | Fresh from the Deep: Ocean scientists film elusive dreamer anglerfish in 4K @MBARIvideo | Uploaded November 2023 | Updated October 2024, 20 hours ago.
During a deep-sea expedition this fall, MBARI researchers happened upon the elusive dreamer anglerfish (Oneirodes sp.). This fascinating fish was filmed with MBARI’s remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Ventana, 781 meters (2,562 feet) deep in Monterey Canyon. In 35 years of deep-sea exploration, MBARI’s ROVs have completed more than 7,300 successful dives and recorded more than 28,400 hours of video, yet we have only encountered the dreamer anglerfish nine times. MBARI’s last observation of Oneirodes was in 2016. This encounter marked MBARI’s first opportunity to film a deep-sea anglerfish in 4K.
The unusual appearance of Oneirodes—ultra-black skin, a luminous lure, and sharp teeth—ensures survival in one of the most challenging environments on Earth. Anglerfishes have bioluminescent lures to attract a meal. Their ultra-black skin absorbs the lure’s light concealing their giant mouth just beyond the lure. In fact, the dreamer anglerfishes are the blackest of black fishes known in the ocean. This “invisibility cloak” also keeps them hidden from predators.
The ROV Ventana recently completed its 4,500th research dive. This is the most science dives logged by a single ROV to date. The trove of deep-sea video filmed by the entire fleet of MBARI’s robots helps scientists document the diversity of life that dwells in the ocean’s depths and better understand humanity’s connection to the deep sea.
More about this exciting sighting: mbari.org/news/fresh-from-the-deepmbari-scientists-film-elusive-dreamer-anglerfish-in-4k
Learn more about this fascinating group of deep-sea fishes: mbari.co/anglerfish
Watch more ultra-black fishes: youtu.be/ih2_KqBrY8s?si=KP0-GnjW4xCbnkEC
Learn more about ROV Ventana’s recent milestone: mbari.org/news/mbaris-remotely-operated-vehicle-ventana-completes-4500-deep-sea-dives
Video producer/editor: Kyra Schlining
Science advisors: Christine Huffard, Karen Osborn, Ted Pietsch, and Bruce Robison
Video production team: Heidi Cullen, Madeline Go, Nancy Jacobsen Stout, Susan von Thun
Music: Angler by Catechism (cccatechism.bandcamp.com/)
References:
Davis, A.L., K.N. Thomas, F.E. Goetz, B.H. Robison, S. Johnsen, and K.J. Osborn (2020). Ultra-black camouflage in deep-sea fishes. Current Biology, 30: 3470–3476. doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2020.06.044
Luck, D.G. and T.W. Pietsch (2008). In-situ observations of a deep-sea ceratioid anglerfish of the genus Oneirodes (Lophiiformes: Oneirodidae). Copeia, 2008(2): 446-451. doi.org/10.1643/CE-07-075
During a deep-sea expedition this fall, MBARI researchers happened upon the elusive dreamer anglerfish (Oneirodes sp.). This fascinating fish was filmed with MBARI’s remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Ventana, 781 meters (2,562 feet) deep in Monterey Canyon. In 35 years of deep-sea exploration, MBARI’s ROVs have completed more than 7,300 successful dives and recorded more than 28,400 hours of video, yet we have only encountered the dreamer anglerfish nine times. MBARI’s last observation of Oneirodes was in 2016. This encounter marked MBARI’s first opportunity to film a deep-sea anglerfish in 4K.
The unusual appearance of Oneirodes—ultra-black skin, a luminous lure, and sharp teeth—ensures survival in one of the most challenging environments on Earth. Anglerfishes have bioluminescent lures to attract a meal. Their ultra-black skin absorbs the lure’s light concealing their giant mouth just beyond the lure. In fact, the dreamer anglerfishes are the blackest of black fishes known in the ocean. This “invisibility cloak” also keeps them hidden from predators.
The ROV Ventana recently completed its 4,500th research dive. This is the most science dives logged by a single ROV to date. The trove of deep-sea video filmed by the entire fleet of MBARI’s robots helps scientists document the diversity of life that dwells in the ocean’s depths and better understand humanity’s connection to the deep sea.
More about this exciting sighting: mbari.org/news/fresh-from-the-deepmbari-scientists-film-elusive-dreamer-anglerfish-in-4k
Learn more about this fascinating group of deep-sea fishes: mbari.co/anglerfish
Watch more ultra-black fishes: youtu.be/ih2_KqBrY8s?si=KP0-GnjW4xCbnkEC
Learn more about ROV Ventana’s recent milestone: mbari.org/news/mbaris-remotely-operated-vehicle-ventana-completes-4500-deep-sea-dives
Video producer/editor: Kyra Schlining
Science advisors: Christine Huffard, Karen Osborn, Ted Pietsch, and Bruce Robison
Video production team: Heidi Cullen, Madeline Go, Nancy Jacobsen Stout, Susan von Thun
Music: Angler by Catechism (cccatechism.bandcamp.com/)
References:
Davis, A.L., K.N. Thomas, F.E. Goetz, B.H. Robison, S. Johnsen, and K.J. Osborn (2020). Ultra-black camouflage in deep-sea fishes. Current Biology, 30: 3470–3476. doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2020.06.044
Luck, D.G. and T.W. Pietsch (2008). In-situ observations of a deep-sea ceratioid anglerfish of the genus Oneirodes (Lophiiformes: Oneirodidae). Copeia, 2008(2): 446-451. doi.org/10.1643/CE-07-075
