#marine fish

[uncharismatic-fauna]

The Can-do Pelican Eel

The pelican eel, also known as the gulper eel (Eurypharynx pelecanoides), are the only known species of eel in the family Eurypharyngidae. They are found exclusively in the deeper parts of the water column, from depths of 500 up to to 3,000 m (1,600 to 9,800 ft), but are distributed throughout all the world's oceans.

The gulper eel is perhaps most famous for its unique body shape. Like many deep-sea fish, this species is highly adapted to its environment; maximum energy efficiency is the highest priority. To that end, the pelican eel has a large head, and a jaw estimated to be quarter of the total length of its body. The jaw is loosely hinged, meaning that gulper eels can open their mouths extremely wide. The rest of the eel, in contrast, is quite slender and long, about 0.75 m (2.5 ft) in length on average. Most individuals are black--so black, in fact, that they only reflect 0.5% of light; perfect for hiding from potential predators.

Although they look skinny, E. pelecanoides can expand their stomachs to hold prey much larger than themselves. Their primary prey consists of crustaceans and cephalopods, though they may feed opportunistically on other fish. Because it is so well camouflaged, it uses bioluminescent organs on the tip of its tail to attract prey. Gulper eels themselves are preyed upon by lancetfish and other larger deep-sea fish. To deter predators, they will gulp down a large amount of water; this stretches the loose skin around their head and throat, and inflates them to several times their usual size.

Because of their remote location, the breeding habits of gulper eels are relatively unknown. However, it is believed that smell plays a large part in attracting a mate, as pelican eels have highly developed olfactory organs. Like other eels, they're born as tiny, transparent larvae in a state known as the leptocephalus stage. At this stage, they do not have any red blood cells. Researchers aren't sure how long it takes gulper eels to become fully mature, or how long they live, but many believe that adults die shortly after mating.

Conservation status: The population size of E. pelecanoides has not been assessed, and thus the IUCN has not made a determination on its status. The greatest threat for this species is deep-sea trawling, which frequently brings up gulper eels as by-catch.

Photos/Video

Paul Caiger

Schmidt Ocean Institute

EV Nautilus Team (I highly recommend checking out their 2023 highlights reel!)

[the-briny-bulletin]

Cryptid fish that has only been seen once and never again that may or may not exist but well never know my beloved

[strawlessandbraless]

Flashlight Fish Appreciation Post

Anomalopidae (lanterneye fishes or flashlight fishes) are a family of fish distinguished by bioluminescent organs located underneath their eyes, for which they are named.

These light organs contain luminous bacteria and can be "shut off" by the fish using either a dark lid or by being drawn into a pouch. They are used to communicate, attract prey, and evade predators.

These rarely seen fish are nocturnal and found in the Indo-Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.

[writheworm]

aquatic animal illustrations for friends

[sharks-are-friends-not-foes]

🐠 Daily Fish Fact: 🐠

Adult Queen Angelfish are selective feeders and primarily eat sponges. Their social structure consists of harems which include one male and up to four females. They live within a territory where the females forage separately and are tended to by the male. Breeding in the species occurs near a full moon.

[deadboystims]

source

credit when using , please check my dni byi

requests are open!

[colorsoutofearth]

Mirrorwing flying fish (Hirundichthys speculiger)

Photo by Alex Mustard

[chunkfunkgunk-offishal]

can you do the festive snailfish (Liparus marmoratus)?

Today on CHUNK, FUNK, GUNK! We rate

the FESTIVE SNAILFISH:

5/10 Chunk

6/10 Funk

10/10 Gunk

Yet another fish that I hadn’t seen before. Initially I was surprised by their resemblance to the Sea Robin (another silly fishy lad), but after some research I’ve found that the two are extremely different! These goofy little guys are mostly gelatin with soft little bones, that’s pretty chunky. Their bodies are apparently made up of a majority gelatinous substance (that is how they got their name) and secrete a lot of slime and mucous, extreme gunk. Its funk would be higher if it weren’t for how my brain instantly thought it was another fish, which significantly impacted its uniqueness rating. Overall, very good fish. I would like to smooch it on its head if it wouldn’t poison me :)

[autistic-clownfish]

[crosseyedcricketart]

Lionfish, pterois

oil on paper board / 9” x 12” / winter 2024

patreon

[leahs-dive-pics]

Critters I found in Anilao, Philippines (2019)!!

Nudibranch capital of the world <333

Here’s my guesses for what these are:

Nembrotha chamberlaini (nudibranch aka sea slug)

Anthia fish under a… hydrazoa?

Orange skunk clownfish (or pink?)

Crinoid aka feather star

Brittle star on hard coral

Nudibranch

Chromodoris willani (nudibranch)

Reef hawkfish

Map pufferfish

Ribbon eel (adult male)

Please let me know if I’m wrong or if you wanna share the specific species!! I always love learning more lol

[segadreammaster]

Absolutely obsessing over the soundtrack for this game. I was never a fan of sports games but HOW do you make a soundtrack that makes me feel like I NEED TO MOVE FAST, but in the calmest way possible. An actual soundtrack to my life.

[strawlessandbraless]

Tripodfish, Discoverichthys praecox larva Appreciation Post!! 🩵 💙 🌊

Rare Tripodfish larva, an Ipnopidae species, found on a blackwater dive off Kona, Hawaii. Body size about 3.5cm

📷 credit: Steven Kovacs

You love to sea it 🌊

[princepv]

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟

[sharks-are-friends-not-foes]

🐠 Daily Fish Fact: 🐠

The Rainbow Parrotfish is among the largest members of its family, and the largest in the Atlantic, reaching 3.9 ft in length. This fish species is known to have a home cave to which it retires at night or when danger threatens; it makes use of the sun as an aid to locating the cave.

[circadiancrunch]

Since Megalodon ‘s trending rofl

If you haven’t been following me on Patreon or here... or well, a lot of places. I’m making a shark-related kickstarter for some shark pins and jewelry. And I painted the banner! With two of my favorite big pelagic sharks, the white shark and the oceanic whitetip. They’re very different sharks, and yet both critically endangered.