The deep-sea creature is a monstrous sight straight out of a horror film: Its flesh is pitch black, its teeth sharp as glass, and its antenna glows to lure unsuspecting prey in the ocean’s murky depths.
It’s quite fitting that this spine-chilling angler fish washed up on the shore of Crystal Cove State Park on Friday the 13th, just weeks before Halloween.
This is the second time in recent years that an angler fish has been found at Crystal Cove State Park. The first sighting, which occurred in 2021, made headlines around the world. The creature, also known as the Pacific Football Fish, was discovered by a park visitor.
Last week, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife retrieved the fish for further research, according to a social media post by State Parks officials. You can find the original post here.
The angler fish that washed ashore two years ago was such a rare find that it is now preserved at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles.
There are over 200 species of angler fish worldwide. The fish discovered on the shore had the distinctive elongated stalk on their heads, which is exclusive to females. These stalks have bioluminescent tips that they use as lures to attract prey in the pitch-black waters as deep as 3,000 feet.
The State Parks officials noted, “Their teeth, like pointed shards of glass, are transparent, and their large mouths are capable of engulfing prey the size of their own bodies.”
It remains a mystery why these astonishing creatures ended up on the shore, as intact angler fish sightings are exceptionally rare. Officials are puzzled and uncertain about the circumstances surrounding their unexpected appearances.
The State Parks post concluded, “Encountering these strange and captivating fish is a testament to the fascinating diversity of marine life beneath California’s protected waters. As scientists continue to unravel the mysteries of these deep-sea creatures, we are reminded of the vast amount of knowledge that still awaits us in our wondrous and enigmatic ocean.”
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