News

The elusive black sea devil, a type of anglerfish, was caught on film for the first time by researchers using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) off the coast of California in the Monterey Bay Canyon. The fish, which lives in the deep sea, was filmed at a depth of 1,900 feet.

Black sea devils are relatively small (this specimen measures just 3.5 inches) and are best known for the glowing lure that dangles off of their face to attract prey in the dark of the deep ocean. Male anglerfish are parasitic and must quickly find a female to latch onto in order to survive. While the male provides the female with sperm, she keeps him (and sometimes multiple males) alive.

After capturing this female specimen on film, the team of researchers were able to bring her back to a laboratory setting alive in order to find out more about the relatively unknown fish.

Read more on National Geographic’s website and watch the video below.