New deep-sea sighting: The barreleye fish has a transparent head and tubular eyes
I spy with my barreleye, a new Fresh from the Deep! During a dive with our education and outreach partner, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the team came across a rare treat: a barreleye fish (Macropinna microstoma).
MBARI’s remotely operated vehicles have logged more than 5,600 successful dives and recorded more than 27,600 hours of video—yet we’ve only encountered this fish nine times!
The barreleye lives in the ocean’s twilight zone, at depths of 600 to 800 meters (2,000 to 2,600 feet). Its eyes look upwards to spot its favorite prey—usually small crustaceans trapped in the tentacles of siphonophores—from the shadows they cast in the faint shimmer of sunlight from above. But how does this fish eat when its eyes point upward and its mouth points forward? MBARI researchers learned the barreleye can rotate its eyes beneath that dome of transparent tissue.
Aquarist Tommy Knowles and his team were aboard MBARI’s R/V Rachel Carson with our ROV Ventana to collect jellies and comb jellies for the Aquarium’s upcoming Into the Deep exhibition when they spotted this fascinating fish. The team stopped to marvel at Macropinna before it swam away.
MBARI is working with the Aquarium to bring the deep sea to you next spring. Into the Deep will bring you face-to-face with deep-sea denizens like bloody-belly comb jellies, bubblegum corals, and Japanese spider crabs.
Learn more about the barreleye fish in our Creature feature:
Find more fascinating creatures:
Learn more about Into the Deep:
Editor: Kyra Schlining
Music: Horizons (MotionArray)
Follow MBARI on social media:
Facebook:
Twitter:
Instagram:
Tumblr:
LinkedIn:
Follow the Monterey Bay Aquarium:
We’re on Twitter:
And Facebook:
And Instagram!
And Tumblr!
And Twitch!
TikTok now too whaaaat: @montereyaq
1 view
9
2
1 month ago 00:04:46 1
Fab - All Good Things (Come to an End) [Nelly Furtado cover]
1 month ago 00:06:43 2
Iotunn - Earth to Sky (Official Video)
1 month ago 00:03:38 1
Disturbed - Down With The Sickness (Official Music Video) [HD UPGRADE]
1 month ago 00:00:00 1
Into the Abyss I ’am Falling ( Vision Vol.2 ) - Melodic Metal with Female Vocals
1 month ago 00:19:28 1
Hello Cozy Autumn - Facing Changes & Fear At The Start of New Season | Autumn in English Countryside
1 month ago 00:02:35 1
David Guetta & OneRepublic - I Don’t Wanna Wait (Official Video)
1 month ago 00:02:32 1
Music For Life ✨🍓 ✨ The Magic of Crystals ✨🍓 ✨ Chill Music
1 month ago 00:26:08 2
Korg Wavestate Vangelis Vintage Analog Presets. Sound Demo
1 month ago 00:08:51 1
Tom Demac vs. Silverclub - Holiday’s Over EP [EP clips]
1 month ago 00:48:07 1
Lineage 2 Best Soundtrack, Relaxing Music 4K - ➰ BreakTime
1 month ago 00:01:00 1
Under the Waves | Launch Trailer
1 month ago 00:00:57 1
Deep Blue - Board Game Trailer
1 month ago 00:08:39 1
Metallica: 72 Seasons (Official Music Video)
1 month ago 00:03:21 1
The Stranglers - This Song (Official Video)
1 month ago 02:36:29 1
Yahweh’s FORBIDDEN Roots Will BLOW YOUR MIND!
1 month ago 00:04:52 1
🔊 EuroMartina - World For Two [Manzano Remix] (Official Music Video) // ITALO DISCO / EURO DANCE
1 month ago 00:05:44 1
Avenged Sevenfold - Carry On (featured in Call of Duty: Black Ops 2) [Official Music Video]