Scientists have discovered two new species of pop-eyed, bioluminescent fish in depths of the Pacific Ocean. The fish bear unique pigment patterns on their bellies, and until now were thought to be variations of the same species in preserved specimens.
The new fish belong to the barreleye family (Opisthoproctidae), which the scientists describe as “one of the most peculiar looking and unknown deep-sea fish groups.” Named for their large, tube-shaped eyes, these fish are both rare and fragile, making them difficult to study. Previously, the family was thought to have 19 members.
In the new study, scientists observed three distinctive pigmentation patterns on the fishes’ bellies. One belonged to a previously identified species found in the Atlantic Ocean. But a DNA analysis indicates that the two other patterns, found in specimens collected from the Pacific Ocean, actually mark distinct species.
These pigment patterns determine the light patterns that shine out from the fishes' rectal bulbs. It’s thought that barreleyes use these patterns as a form of camouflage from predators swimming beneath them. By producing light, the fish conceal their silhouette, which would otherwise be highlighted by the small amounts of sunlight that reach thousands of feet below the ocean’s -read more
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