Dragon with massive teeth: the Deep Sea Dragonfish or Viperfish

The deep sea dragonfish or viper fish is an awesome looking creature from the middle depths of the ocean (this one comes from 600 metres or about 2000 feet deep). Also called the scaleless dragonfish, they are ferocious predators, with extremely large teeth compared to their body size. And they have one of nature's most amazing tricks to give them the edge over their prey (more below).

There are several different species of dragonfish (one estimate is 67 species - all from the fish family known as Family Stomidae) and they are quite difficult to tell apart but this one is from the pacific depths of California and is likely Tactostoma macropus, the longfin dragonfish. Idiacanthus antrostomus is an Atlantic species that looks very similar - at least I think that's the case correct me if I'm wrong. Could be Idiacanthus antrostomus, the Pacific black dragonfish also. Females are much longer than the males which do not feed but just have sex and die!



They hunt with a bioluminescent barbel or lure. It is not glowing here but under the different lighting regimes I used - some of the darker images - you can see how much the lure stands out.

Sadly fish like this do not survive long on the surface, mainly because of temperature differences and mechanical damage in the net rather than pressure problems I think. It was caught in a cod-end trawl and filmed in a special tank (a kreisal aquarium). But is great to be able to share another wonder of the oceans on YouTube.

And their amazing trick? Unlike most other deep sea creatures which are sensitive to blue light - the dragonfish also produces a red light beam (see the organ to the rear of the eye) - it is also very sensitive to red light. Although red light does not travel very far underwater it allows them to see when other animals cannot and to sneak up on their prey - especially shrimps that glow in the red light. For more detail see: http://www.science-frontiers.com/sf10... and the work of Ron Douglas and Julian Partridge, http://blog.wellcomecollection.org/ta... ( these images were filmed with the help of Julian and Ron).

Oh and this female dragon is not big - about 60 cm or just under two feet!

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