The incredible variety of forms and species of certain fish is the result of their ubiquitous distribution, which influenced the evolutionary development of these creatures. Fish live in dams overgrown with aquatic vegetation, and in small puddles left after rain, and in mountain streams with powerful currents, and in mountain lakes at an altitude of 600 meters above sea level, and at great depths, where water pressure can reach 1000 atmospheres, and even in underground caves!
Evolution is scary
Naturally, in the course of evolution, adaptation to living in extreme and hard-to-reach conditions leaves a peculiar imprint on the appearance of some fish. The most terrible and amazing of them swim not only in underground caves, but also at great depths. They are called "deep sea monster fish". The lifestyle of these creatures is noticeably different from the life of ordinary and familiar fish.
Bellyfish
One of the most poorly studied species of deep-sea fish is the so-called chiasmodon, or black live-throat. In almost any book describing such monsters, the live-eater resembles a boa constrictor that has swallowed an elephant. In fact, live-throats are small fish, their length rarely exceeds 15 centimeters. However, this does not prevent them from swallowing their prey whole. These monster fish live at great ocean depths - up to 750 m.
Their elongated and naked body with weak muscles and rather soft bones is black or brown, and their huge mouth is armed with sharp and powerful teeth resembling fangs. They are located immediately in several rows (like sharks). Probably, it is not necessary to remind that the problem of nutrition in deep-sea conditions is very acute. To prevent competitors from getting anything, the stingers adapted to swallow their victims instantly and without much thought.
Bags
No less original to solve the problem of food at great depths, other monster fish - sack shorts have learned. Scientists argue that their way of obtaining food was very thorny: evolution turned these creatures into a huge mouth with an inconspicuous appendage that is the body. The most famous and recognizable type of sackfish is the bigmouth, or pelican eel. In length, this monster reaches 60 cm, 30% of which falls on long and rather thin jaws located on a giant mouth!
From the lower jaw straight downa long and large throat continues, stretching like a bag. Visually, it resembles the throat pouch of a pelican, for which the large mouth was nicknamed the pelican eel. In principle, the mechanism of action of such a pharynx is identical to the action of pelican bags: all the caught fish fall through them. This allows both fish and birds to stock up on food for future use. It is not uncommon for a bigmouth fish to swallow prey twice its size!
Greats are true deep-seated monster fish, because they live at a distance of 3 thousand meters under water! That's why bolshemouths experience real nutritional difficulties: their pharyngeal pouches are rarely replenished with tasty deep-sea fish and crustaceans. Therefore, they have to be content with everything. According to legend, algae, pebbles and very few fish were found in a pharyngeal sac of one caught bolshemouth. At gigantic depths - up to 5 thousand meters - in general, you can meet the so-called real sacks, reaching a length of 1.84 meters!
Eyeless Hypnops
Which fish monsters living at great depths of the sea differ from the rest not only in their large mouths, but also in their peculiar vision? Of course, hypnosis! The fact is that deep-sea monsters have to solve the problems associated with poor visibility, or rather, with its absence in general, in any way. The hypnops mentioned above, living at depths of 900 to 6000 meters, generally took the path of least resistance, completely losing their sight. It is understandable: why do you need eyes, if allstill around nothing to see?
According to the descriptions of ichthyologists-researchers from the team of Jacques-Yves Cousteau, the eyes of Hypnops are either completely absent, or (which happens very rarely) are so tiny and hidden under scales and skin that they are not able to perceive light at all. It is worth noting that such a solution to problems did not suit the vast majority of deep monsters, since vision in the life of these creatures continued and continues to play a large role. To see in constant darkness, many of them needed special devices, but that's another story.
Legendary oarfish
Not so long ago, another discovery of ichthyologists was told on the American TV channel Nat Geo Wild. Monster fish, it turns out, differ not only in their large width! The fact is that the researchers finally managed to capture on video the rarest deep-seated fish that once inspired fear in sailors. Her name is the oar king, or fish belt. She accidentally hit the camera lens, which allowed zoologists from the University of Louisiana to observe firsthand the legendary oar king in its natural habitat.
An unexpected "meeting"
Until now, a 17-meter-long belt fish could be seen either dead or dying at the moment when it voluntarily floated to the surface of the water. This is the first time that such legendary underwater monsters were not only visible to the entire scientific world community, but also recorded on video.in the so-called live mode. According to the Discovery TV channel, monster fish, which are in the same family as the oar king, are found at depths of up to 1.5 thousand meters.
The thong fish was spotted by researchers a few years ago when using CCTV cameras they inspected a drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico. However, this unexpected "meeting" was declassified not so long ago. Specialists also spoke about this on the air of the BBC TV channel. Professor Mark Benfield then shared his impressions: “We generally thought that we were facing another oil pipe. As soon as we enlarged the image, we realized that this is not a pipe, but a real oarfish!”.
Deep Sea Anglerfish
These creatures are real monster fish! Their second name is ceracia. They are the most studied of all the deep sea fish described in this article. Anglerfish belong to the suborder of deep-seated fish from the order of anglerfish and inhabit the water column throughout the oceans, i.e. everywhere. Currently, 11 families have been described by ichthyologists, which include almost 120 species. Deep-sea anglers live at depths up to 3000 meters. They differ from other monsters in the spherical and strongly laterally flattened shape of the body. Females have a so-called "rod".
Famous angler fishing
"Fishing rod" is a modified ray of the dorsal fin, which is the "calling card" of these creatures. Such a "rod"plays the role of bait. At its end is the so-called esca - a small skin growth hanging over a huge mouth with needle-shaped teeth. Esca is filled with millions of different glowing bacteria. It is they who serve as bait for small and stupid fish, which, like moths to the light, swim towards it. Monster fish with such “rods” are able to control the frequency and brightness of flashes. This allows them to increase the effect they have on the target being fooled.
River monster fish. Dread Therapon Goliath
This is a distant and rather rare relative of the modern piranha. However, compared to this monster, piranhas are tiny and harmless fish. Therapon goliath was found and caught by one of the popular American anglers in the Congo River, Africa. This monster has 32 razor-sharp teeth and is the scariest freshwater fish in the world! It is also the largest and deadliest species in the piranha family.
Sawfish rays
Their second name is sawfish. They have a shark-like body and a long flat outgrowth in the form of their own snout, framed on the sides by long teeth of the same size. Outwardly, this outgrowth resembles a saw, for which these freshwater creatures were nicknamed sawfish. In principle, sawflies do not pose a serious danger to humans, but their appearance can frighten even the most courageous diver. And all because outwardly they resemble exotic sharks. However, sharks, unlike sawfish, are not found infresh waters. Remember this!
