In February, researchers from a group called Condrik Tenerife were near Tenerife Island. They were looking for sharks when they saw something strange.
Photographer David Jara Boguñá recorded a humpback anglerfish (Melanocetus johnsonii) swimming close to the surface. This fish has never been seen alive in the sunlight. It usually lives deep in the ocean, between 200 and 600 meters down.
The video made many people feel empathy on social media. Some people see the anglerfish as a symbol or a hero. This shows that people are starting to change how they think about deep-sea animals.
Anglerfish are smaller than many think. The one filmed was a female, around 15 centimeters long. The female has a glowing lure to catch prey. The male is much smaller and attaches to the female for life.
Sadly, the fish died after being seen. Its body will be studied at the Museum of Nature and Archaeology in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Vocabulary List:
- Anglerfish /ˈæŋ.ɡlər.fɪʃ/ (noun): A type of fish known for its bioluminescent lure used to attract prey.
- Empathy /ˈɛm.pə.θi/ (noun): The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
- Luminescent /ˌluː.mɪˈnɛ.sənt/ (adjective): Emitting light not caused by heat.
- Symptom /ˈsɪmptəm/ (noun): A sign or indication of something often related to a condition or phenomenon.
- Prey /preɪ/ (noun): An animal that is hunted and killed by another for food.
- Strange /streɪndʒ/ (adjective): Unusual or surprising in a way that is unsettling or hard to understand.
How much do you know?
Where were the researchers from who were near Tenerife Island in February?
What type of fish was recorded by photographer David Jara Boguñá swimming close to the surface?
At what depth does the humpback anglerfish usually live?
How long was the filmed female anglerfish?
What is the purpose of the glowing lure of the female anglerfish?
Where will the body of the anglerfish be studied after its death?
The humpback anglerfish is commonly found close to the surface.
The male anglerfish is larger than the female counterpart.
The video of the humpback anglerfish caused negative reactions on social media.
The anglerfish was studied at the Museum of Nature and Archaeology while still alive.
The anglerfish seen in the video was the first one ever recorded.
The male anglerfish attaches to the female for life.
The humpback anglerfish usually lives deep in the ocean, between 200 and meters down.
The female anglerfish filmed was around centimeters long.
The anglerfish body will be studied at the Museum of Nature and Archaeology in Santa Cruz de .
The humpback anglerfish has never been seen alive in the .
Some people see the anglerfish as a symbol or a .
The anglerfish is known for its glowing to catch prey.
