The Angler Fish is a terrifying creature of the deep, dark sea that most of us pray we will never encounter. Angler fish are characterized by their giant, scary-looking teeth. Female angler fish have a bio-luminescent protrusion on their heads used for hunting.
These fish are typically deep water dwellers, and never have cause to interact with humans. Until now…
Scientists at California’s Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute managed to capture a live female angler fish on video in her natural environment for the first time ever.
Researchers used a remote operated submarine to capture the footage at about 2,000 feet underwater in the Monterey Canyon.
After capturing this amazing footage, the team of scientists managed to trap and collect this particular angler fish for further study.
Check out the full video of the angler fish in action below.
H/T: IFL Science
While the angler fish is certainly creepy looking, they’re not much of a threat to humans. They live deep in the ocean, and only grow to be a few inches long. The angler fish in this footage was only 3.5 inches long. They still look pretty scary up close, and I certainly never want to be in their natural habitat.