What would make a creature built for total darkness suddenly appear near the ocean’s surface? A rare deep-sea predator known as the black seadevil anglerfish stunned scientists when one was filmed in daylight near Tenerife in the Canary Islands. The fish normally lives hundreds or thousands of feet below the surface, where sunlight cannot reach. Its huge mouth, sharp teeth, dark body, and glowing lure make it one of the strangest hunters in the ocean. The unusual sighting gave researchers a rare look at an animal that is rarely seen alive near the surface.
Here is what scientists know about the fish and why its appearance remains a mystery.
The strange fish was a black seadevil
The animal was identified as a black seadevil anglerfish, a species called Melanocetus johnsonii. It was spotted near Tenerife in early February 2025 while researchers were working on a shark study in the area.
Marine biologist Laia Valor noticed the fish, and the research team quickly began recording it. The sighting was unusual because black seadevils normally stay deep below the surface, making a live encounter in daylight extremely rare.
Its appearance fits the deep sea
The black seadevil has a round body, a very large mouth, and long, sharp teeth. Its strange face may look frightening, but these features are useful tools for surviving where food is hard to find.
The fish also has a glowing structure that sticks out from its head. This light comes from bioluminescent bacteria and acts like a small fishing lure, helping the predator draw prey close enough to swallow.
The fish normally lives in darkness
Black seadevils are deep-sea animals that can live hundreds to thousands of feet below the surface. At those depths, sunlight is extremely weak or completely absent, so animals have developed special ways to find food and survive.
The glowing lure is especially useful in this dark world. Instead of chasing prey through a huge area, the anglerfish can use the small light to attract curious animals toward its waiting jaws.
The female does most of the hunting
The terrifying-looking fish seen near Tenerife was a female. Female deep-sea anglerfish are much larger than males and have the famous glowing lure used for hunting.
Males have a very different life. They are tiny compared with females and do not have the same hunting equipment. In many anglerfish species, a male finds a female and attaches himself to her body, sometimes becoming permanently connected to her.
Scientists do not know why it surfaced
The biggest mystery is why this deep-sea predator came so close to the surface. Scientists have suggested possible reasons, including illness or an attempt to escape another predator, but there is not enough evidence to prove exactly what happened.
The fish was in poor condition and died only a short time after being observed. Its body was preserved for scientific study, giving researchers a chance to examine an animal that is rarely available for close study.
The sighting gave scientists a rare look
Most records of black seadevils come from dead animals, young specimens, or deep-sea research trips. Seeing one alive in daylight is therefore extremely unusual and gave scientists a valuable chance to observe its movement and appearance.
The encounter also shows how much remains unknown about deep-sea life. Even animals that scientists have already named can still surprise researchers when they appear in places where they are not normally found.
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