Freak of Nature: Black Devil Deep-Sea Angler Fish

The Deep-Sea Angler Fish got its common name, Black Devil, from its black color, sharp fang-like teeth, and dwelling at depths over 3000 feet under the sea. Black Devil Angler Fish have adapted well to their realm of darkness. The Deep-Sea Angler fish has crafted some remarkable skills to survive this bitter cold and completely dark environment.

A natural antennae lure planted on top of its head serves as bait. The Black Devil Angler Fish uses the oxidation process called Luciferin, a light emitting bacteria which produces photophore. This causes the tip of the lure to glow, attracting prey. When less fortunate deep-sea creatures come in close contact with the Black Devil Angler Fish, it's mouth automatically opens. The poor suckers don't have a prayer.

The Black Devil Angler Fish- scientific name: Melanocetus johnsoni, means "black whale". Their fat, round body looks like a basketball, rolling on in the pitch black. This shape developed to prevent crushing itself in the tremendous pressure build up of the vast deep-sea. These black sea devils have long, thin teeth that stick out both sides of its mouth. When the fish opens their jaws wide, its mouth is larger than the body. A flexible stomach allows the sea creature to swallow prey twice its size.

The female Black Devil Angler Fish has three luminescent sacs in front of her dorsal fin. This has earned her the nickname, 'triple wart sea devil'. Who said scientists don't have a wicked sense of humor? The Black Devil got its name Angler Fish from the long, modified dorsal spine which it waves back and forth like a fishing rod. The deep-sea fish is capable of flashing the lit tip off and on. Signaling to other sea creatures to come closer, the water's fine.

Why is the female Angler Fish doing the fishing? Where is the male Black Devil while his partner is catching dinner? Researchers wondered why they were never able to get a glimpse of the male counterpart. Then they looked on the underside of the female. Here comes the freaky part. Shortly, after birth the male attaches itself to the female. The male seen hitching a ride is tiny in size compared to his much larger female companion.

The male Black Devil Angler has small hooked teeth that he uses to grab hold of the female. Once attached, the male's blood vessels combine with the female's. The male will spend the rest of its life permanently joined to the female. Becoming a parasite, the male will get all his nourishment from the female. If a male Black Devil is unable to pair up with a female, he will die of starvation. Male black sea devils lack digestive tubes and can not stomach food on their own.

The Black Devil Angler live in the deep-sea where water temperatures dip down close to freezing. The female instinctively knows without benefit of hints from the sun when early summer has arrived and it's time to spawn. Lucky for her; she already has a sperm donor on board. Females release millions of eggs in a single spawning. The eggs form a clump that is full of ridges. These canals suck up the sperm like a sponge.

The fertilized eggs float to the surface to form a jelly-like mass until the fish hatch. The new-born male will smell out a female, biting, and latching on to her abdomen. That is his last taste of freedom. The female will then descend to the bottom of the sea with her mate in tow. The male is afforded a lifetime supply of nutrients and oxygen while the female is guaranteed transfer of sperm on demand. Sounds like a pact made with the devil. I think the male got the raw end of the deal.

The female Black Devil Angler has been known to have two males dependent on her. Any gentlemen in the audience may want to look away at this next part. The male degenerates as the female's tissue grows around his body. He will begin to lose his organs, along with its eyes and become one with the female. Taking the meaning of a union formed to a whole new level.

Ted Pietsch, who has studied the Black Devil Angler Fish, believes their mating habits evolved into these extreme measures to insure future generations. In a sparsely populated deep-sea surrounding, bound fish have a better chance at staying together, maturing alongside one another, and spawning in sync.

The Black Devil Angler is found in all waters of the world. If, you haven't completely lost your appetite, it's meat has been compared with lobster in texture and taste. The Black Devil Angler Fish is often referred to as the poor man's lobster.

Sources:

Deep Atlantic: Life, Death, and Exploration in the Abyss

Knopf, 1996

http://artedi.fish.washington.edu/Staff/tpietsch.html