Today we are going to talk about a fish that is quite curious for its characteristics that is worth seeing in order to appreciate all its quality. His strange body and particular appearance makes him quite special. Its about goblin fish. It belongs to the Opisthoproctidae family and its scientific name is Macropinna microstoma. Surely when you know more about him you will be completely surprised both by his characteristics and the way he lives.
Would you like unravel all the secrets of the goblin fish? In this article, we'll show you everything, so keep reading to find out.
Key features
It's also known as the fishhead due to its unique shape. Its head is shaped like a transparent dome, filled with a colorless liquid. This structure allows part of its interior to be observed from a distance: eyes, brain and nerve endings are visible through this dome. The rest of their body is quite similar to that of other deep-sea fish, with a design adapted to life in the shadows.
It is composed of a type of scales elongated and arranged in a V shape. In terms of color, it displays magenta-gray tones and a faint shine characteristic of mesopelagic species. The tail appears transparent, although it is actually translucent, which makes it impossible to clearly observe internal structures. It's like looking through glass that's been under water for a while.
The mouth is quite small as it is used to eating smaller prey. Its evolutionary process has not selected a larger mouth since it does not need it: its hunting strategy is based on precision and the use of fragile and gelatinous prey.
The pectoral fins are located low and on the sides. They are elongated, flat and very mobile, and thanks to them, it can remain almost motionless for long periods in a stalking position. When it locates prey, it launches forward suddenly and in a controlled manner, allowing it to deliver a highly accurate attack with reduced energy expenditure.
Although the head is transparent, it is not defenseless. The goblin fish has a protective shield This membrane covers the top of the dome and allows it to withstand contact with the stinging tentacles of jellyfish and hydroids. This protection is key, as these organisms are part of their diet.
Unique eyes
Unlike many other fish, the goblin fish lacks a swim bladderThis absence allows it to swim at great depths without being damaged by water pressure. We find a fish approximately 15 cm long, although Specimens of up to 20 cm have been observed.
At first glance, two black holes located above the mouth may be mistaken for eyes. However, they are their olfactory organs (nostrils), with which it captures chemical signals from the environment and detects the presence and proximity of prey.
The royal eyes are the most striking feature. They are located inside the skull and are shaped like adjustable green tubes. Because the head dome is clear and transparent, the goblin fish can freely direct its gaze without bony obstacles. This arrangement gives it a three-dimensional vision and a very wide field of observation, crucial for locating food in an environment with extremely low light.
These tubular eyes are very sensitive and optimized for concentrate the little light availableThe green pigment would act as a filter, blocking some of the light falling from the surface to highlight bioluminescent flashes emitted by jellyfish, siphonophores, or other organisms. Furthermore, unlike other tube-eyed fish, in Macropinna microstoma the eyes they are not fixed: They can rotate from an upward facing position (while stalking) to facing forward at the moment of attack.
This ocular mobility solves a classic problem of species with barrel eyes: the narrow field of vision. Here, the transparent dome and the rotation of the eyes provide a dynamic visual pattern which eliminates blind spots and facilitates exact coordination between gaze and bite.
Behavior, habitat and distribution of the goblin fish
These fish are solitary most of the time. They are not very active; they usually remain in the same position for most of the day, waiting for their prey to pass by. This immobility allows them to unnoticed and reduces energy expenditure, a vital aspect in environments where food is intermittent.
When standing in the water, he keeps his body horizontal, with his gaze directed upwards. This posture gives him a strategic advantage: It tracks "marine snow" (falling particles and small organisms) and detects the silhouettes of prey above its head. At the moment of attack, it rotates its eyes forward and adjusts its body to execute a precise capture.
Its distribution area is wide according to observation records. We can find it in places from the Pacific Ocean, as well as the Atlantic and Indian OceansHowever, confirmed sightings are especially frequent in the North pacific, with mentions in areas such as the Bering Sea and areas near Baja California, the United States, and Mexico. In other basins, mentions are less frequent and information is scarcer, understandably due to the difficulty of sampling at great depths.
Its natural habitat is located in the area mesopelagic (approximately between 200 and 1.000 meters deep). If food is abundant, it is often found around 600 metersThe absence of a swim bladder and the presence of tissues with adjusted densities help it withstand pressure and move stably in these layers. It shares its environment with species such as the drop fish, with which it coincides in adaptations to pressure and lack of light.
Energy is a valuable resource in the deep ocean, so the goblin fish has perfected a behavior of patient stalkingIt positions itself near floating structures such as siphonophore colonies to take advantage of small fish or crustaceans caught in its tentacles, minimizing risks thanks to the shield that protects its head dome.
Reproduction and feeding of Macropinna microstoma
Of the reproduction there is not much information. What is known is that they reproduce the same as surgeon fish. Has no sexual dimorphism, making it very difficult to differentiate males from females. Their reproduction is oviparous, and fertilization is thought to occur by dispersal: the female releases the eggs into the water column, and the male fertilizes them externally.
The eggs are covered with a drop of oil This gives them buoyancy and protection. After hatching, the larvae remain in shallower waters as part of the plankton, where the availability of food and lower pressure favor their development. As they grow, they descend to mesopelagic layers, integrating into the lifestyle characteristic of adults.
Regarding diet, it is not known with complete certainty what people consume in each region, but there are solid indications: jellyfish and hydrozoans (including siphonophores), small fish, planktonic crustaceans (such as krill), and other gelatinous organisms. The green pigment in their eyes helps filter downlight and distinguish bioluminescence subtle, a key signal for locating prey in the dark.
One observed behavior is that of “opportunistic exploitation": It maintains a position near siphonophores to capture prey, which are immobilized by its tentacles. When it locates food above its position, it positions its body vertically and orients its eyes forward, thus coordinating its lunge and suction with great precision. Its small mouth suggests it prefers soft or small prey, captured with measured movements rather than brute force.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjZIeBDF9Hw
I hope that thanks to this information you can know better to the goblin fish..
To complete the portrait of this species, it is worth remembering some key points. transparent cephalic dome not only allows you to see your organs, it also protects and optimizes vision in low light; mobile tubular eyes give you an exceptional field of vision and coordinate attack and targeting; your solitary and patient behavior It saves energy in the mesopelagic zone; and its diet includes gelatinous organisms and small fish, with hunting strategies based on opportunity and precision. Each of these adaptations explains why Macropinna microstoma It is one of the most unique fish in the deep ocean.