Brownsnout spookfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brownsnout spookfish |
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Aulostoma longipes Vaillant, 1888 |
The brownsnout spookfish (Dolichopteryx longipes) is a fascinating deep-sea fish. It belongs to a group of fish called barreleyes. This amazing creature lives in the very deep parts of the ocean. It's special because it's one of the only vertebrates (animals with backbones) known to use both a lens and a mirror in its eyes to see! This helps it focus images in the dark ocean depths.
This fish is found all over the world in warm and mild waters. You can find it in the Atlantic Ocean near places like Bermuda and the Gulf of Mexico. It also lives in the Pacific Ocean, including the South China Sea. It usually lives very deep, between 500 and 2,400 meters (about 1,640 to 7,874 feet) below the surface. It often stays below 1,000 meters (3,280 feet).
About the Brownsnout Spookfish
The brownsnout spookfish has a thin body. Its body depth is about 12-14% of its total length. Its head is quite large, making up about 29-32% of its length. It has a long, pointy snout.
Its eyes are shaped like cylinders and point upwards. They also have a special part on the side. A shiny layer called the "argentea" covers its eyes. This layer helps the fish blend in with its surroundings. The fish does not have teeth in its upper jaw. However, it has a single row of small teeth in its lower jaw.
The brownsnout spookfish has several fins. It has 13 rays in its pectoral fins, 10-11 rays in its dorsal fin, and 8-9 rays in its pelvic fins and anal fin. Its pelvic fins are long. This fish has a transparent body. It is covered by very thin scales. It can grow up to 18 centimeters (about 7 inches) long.
Life in the Deep Sea
The brownsnout spookfish mainly eats small crustaceans like copepods. Food is hard to find in the deep sea. So, this fish will eat almost anything it can catch.
Brownsnout spookfish lay eggs. These eggs and the young fish (called larvae) float in the open water. Young fish and adults are covered in a jelly-like layer. The fish grows and changes as it gets older. It reaches its adult form when it is about 30 millimeters (1.2 inches) long.
Adult brownsnout spookfish keep some features that are usually only seen in young fish of other species. For example, their muscles are not very strong. Their scales and colors are also not fully developed. They can live for about 5 years.
Amazing Eyes
The eyes of the brownsnout spookfish are truly unique. They use both lenses and mirrors to see. Most animals only use lenses. Each main eye is shaped like a tube. It has a side part called a "diverticulum." This part is mostly separate from the main eye.
The inside of the eye is lined with a retina. This is the part that detects light. The eye has two openings. One points up and the other points down. Light enters the main eye through the top opening. It enters the diverticulum through the bottom opening.
The main eye uses a lens to focus images, just like our eyes. But inside the diverticulum, light is reflected. A curved mirror focuses the light onto the retina. This mirror is made of many layers of tiny, shiny plates. These plates might be made of guanine crystals.
This special eye structure allows the brownsnout spookfish to see both up and down at the same time. The mirror system is also very good at gathering light in the dark deep sea. The main eye probably helps the fish see objects against the faint sunlight from above. The mirror part helps it spot flashes of bioluminescence (light made by living things) from the sides and below.
