Crested bigscale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crested bigscale |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Beryciformes |
| Family: | Melamphaidae |
| Genus: | Poromitra |
| Species: |
P. crassiceps
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| Binomial name | |
| Poromitra crassiceps Günther, 1878
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The Poromitra crassiceps, also known as the crested bigscale, is a fascinating type of deep sea fish. It belongs to a group of fish called ridgeheads. People also sometimes call it the 'large-headed midnight fish' or 'crested melamphid'.
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About the Crested Bigscale
This fish lives in the very deep parts of the ocean. It's a small fish, but it has some amazing features that help it survive in its dark home.
Where Does the Crested Bigscale Live?
For a long time, people thought the crested bigscale lived in places like Alaskan waters. However, scientists now believe that the fish found in Alaska, which looks very similar, is actually a different species called Poromitra curilensis.
The true Poromitra crassiceps is mostly found in the Atlantic Ocean. This means it lives far away from its look-alike cousin!
How Big Can It Get?
Because of the mix-up with the Alaskan fish, the Poromitra crassiceps was sometimes thought to be the biggest ridgehead. But that's not quite right.
The P. curilensis (the Alaskan one) can grow up to 18 centimeters (about 7 inches) long. The P. crassiceps is a bit smaller. It usually reaches a maximum length of about 14.8 centimeters (around 5.8 inches).
How Does It Hide in the Deep Sea?
The deep sea is incredibly dark. Almost no sunlight reaches these depths. But some deep-sea creatures can make their own light, a process called bioluminescence. This means they can glow in the dark! They use this light to find food or to spot other creatures.
The crested bigscale has a special way to avoid being seen by these glowing predators. It's like a master of disguise!
Becoming Invisible
This fish has skin that is super good at absorbing light. It's almost like a black hole for light! Its skin absorbs about 99.5% of any light that hits it. This makes it practically invisible in the dark ocean.
The Secret to Its Skin
The secret lies in a dark pigment called melanin. This is the same pigment that gives humans their skin and hair color. In the crested bigscale, melanin is packed into tiny structures called granules. These granules are grouped together into special cells called melanophores.
These melanophores cover almost all of the fish's skin. They work together to trap any light that comes their way. Even if a tiny bit of light bounces off, nearby melanin granules quickly absorb it.
Scales for Protection
The crested bigscale also has large scales covered in these light-absorbing melanophores. These scales can easily detach from the fish. If a predator gets too close and tries to bite it, it might end up with a mouthful of scales instead of the fish!
This amazing ability to absorb light makes the crested bigscale very hard to photograph in its natural home.
 | Leon Lynch |
 | Milton P. Webster |
 | Ferdinand Smith |
