Beachcombers were surprised to come across a rare deep-sea angler fish with an alien-looking appearance on Cannon Beach in Oregon on May 18th.
The fish is known as the Pacific football fish and was cataloged by the Seaside Aquarium in a Facebook post. The beach is located about an hour and a half drive from Portland.
Rare Species of Fish
This species of fish is considered to be rare, as per the aquarium, with just 31 species having been recorded across the globe.
The deep-sea angler was quite far from its natural habitat as the Seaside Aquarium states they “[Live] in complete darkness, at 2,000-3,300 feet (below the sea,) these fish are rarely seen”, according to their Facebook post.
Ownership of the Pacific Football Fish
While the aquarium was not present for the discovery of the fish, they were alerted to its presence after a local beachcomber sent pictures to them.
According to the aquarium’s general manager, Keith Chandler, in an interview with USA TODAY: “The person who found it didn’t want to let us have it to preserve it”.
What Are Angler Fish?
If you’ve seen 2003’s “Finding Nemo” you may be familiar with the female angler fish seen in that movie but the species found on Cannon Beach looks markedly different.
Their ability to live in total darkness at such depths is still a mystery to researchers, states the aquarium’s post: “Little is known about (Pacific football fish’s) life history but what is known is unusually fascinating”.
Odd Features
This species discovered washed up on the beach is “Like other angler fish, they use light that shines from a phosphorescent bulb on their forehead to attract prey” according to the aquarium’s post.
This far down in the depths of the ocean, food is hard to come by for these fascinating creatures so they aren’t able to be picky about their diet.
Bizarre Differences in Sex
The males and females are starkly different in the species, with females actively hunting for food while the males can be 10 times smaller than the females.
The males act more like parasites compared to the males as they combine with their female partner losing their eyes and internal organs.
Past Discoveries
This species of football fish has previously been recorded in a handful of countries and regions including New Zealand, Japan, Russia, Hawaii, Ecuador, Chile, and California.
As far as the Seaside Aquarium is aware this is the first time this species of fish has been discovered on the Oregan Coast to their knowledge.
Prior Analysis
As the beachcomber who found the creature was the one to discover it it is up to them what they do with the creature.
Just last December however another Pacific football fish was analyzed in San Diego, California after it was found washed ashore on a beach nearby.
Research Insights
From the analysis performed in San Diego, researchers commented on the modified fin spine found in the fish which comes off of their dorsal fin as seen on USA TODAY.
The bulb at the front of their head contains bacteria that produce bioluminescence allowing it to glow. The specimen in San Diego is one of three that the institute possesses.
Fascinating Biology
Further examination of the Pacific football fish found last December noted that their skin was very rubbery with dissection proving difficult even with a sharp scalpel.
In an x-ray, it was observed that the majority of the bones in their body were related to the head owing to the bulb protruding from the front of their skull. Their rubbery skin could have developed to help protect them from parasites.
Strange Activity in Oregon
This discovery comes on the heels of the discovery of another array of alien-looking creatures that washed up on beaches from Oregon to California last month.
The organisms are known as Velella velella are known as colonies of hydrozoans who are also known as “by-the-wind-sailors” due to the sail-like fin they use to catch the wind and traverse the ocean.
Natural Phenomenon
While beachgoers were surprised by the blue creatures in April it is a natural phenomenon that happens occasionally, also known as a “blue tide”.
The brilliant hue of these interesting creatures may be an aid to help them blend in to avoid predators or protect them from damaging UV rays.
The Pacific football fish is just another in a series of strange alien-like creatures that have washed up on the shores of Oregon in the last few months.
