Oceanographers in California showed the first video of a strangest abyssal fish with a transparent skull. Its eyes can look upwards, through the skull, also forward to swallow its prey, which they were not aware of. It was the end of a mystery and further proof that life on earth explores unsuspected solutions. While exobiologists study the possibilities of life on other planets, observation of the surprising world of the abyss remains enlightening.
Decidedly, life in the abyss regularly holds its share of surprises. Looking at the video and the images brought back by Bruce Robisonand Kim Reisenbichler, from the MBARI ( Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute ), revealing an incredible fish, whose skull is transparent. Macropinna microstoma is a barreleye fish, these deep-sea fish have their eyes turned upwards, with their skulls having an empty space above them.
The Rov ( Remote Operated Vehicle ), a remote – controlled underwater robot, observed several M. microstoma off the coast of California for a long time at nearly a thousand meters.
Scientists were first shocked by the immobility of the fish. In fact, its large fins move constantly, but to stabilize the animal in a horizontal position and to maneuver precisely, as the ROV does. The fish was filmed very closely, in the spotlight and the footage clearly showed that the eyes are encompassed in the transparent structure, which had never been observed on individuals brought to the surface.
The ROV also made it possible to capture a live fish and bring back alive on board the vessel. Placed in an aquarium, it lived for several hours and could be examined. Scientists then noticed the eye movement, far from being stationary, can turn forwards and therefore spot what is in front of the mouth. A mystery that was finally solved.
In the aquarium, this fish unveiled its technique. Once the prey is spotted in front of it by its olfactory bulbs, it turns its eyes forward while its body, horizontally, is placed in a vertical position. Zoologists think that this fish feeds mainly by stealing food from siphonophores.
