In an unprecedented achievement for marine science, researchers have managed to capture on video a barreleye fish in its natural habitat for the first time. This unique fish, known as barreleye fish in English, was filmed at extreme depths in the dark Atlantic Ocean, a place that had kept this peculiar species a secret.
Discovery of the barreleye fish in the Atlantic
The discovery was made possible thanks to a robotic submarine expedition that captured high-quality images of the Winteria telescopa, a rare species that inhabits areas where sunlight does not reach. Scientists were impressed to observe the creature, which displays a surprising transparent dome on its head and green visual organs that challenge our conventional understanding of biology.
Historically, the few specimens studied had reached the surface lifeless and deteriorated, victims of fishing nets and abrupt pressure changes. This new record offers a unique opportunity to study how these fish interact with their environment.
The discovery was made using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) that explored the seabed. Equipped with powerful LED lights, the ROV captured the fish almost motionless in the oceanic twilight zone, allowing scientists to document its swimming form before it disappeared into the darkness.
Such detailed images are an invaluable treasure for the scientific community, as previously only damaged remains of the species were available due to trawl nets.
This barreleye fish is designed for the depths, with green spherical eyes that detect the faintest light from above. These ocular structures, located under a translucent skull, act as biological filters that allow them to ignore bioluminescence and focus on their prey.
The fish’s body is dark and features delicate scales that help it camouflage from predators in the Atlantic. Its hunting strategy is based on floating horizontally, surprising crustaceans and jellyfish in the water column.
The transparent dome, crucial for protecting its eyes from jellyfish, easily breaks when brought to the surface in nets. Therefore, the ROV images are considered a scientific jewel, offering a new perspective on this enigmatic species.
