Cyema facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cyema
Scientific classification

The Cyema atrum is a fascinating deep-sea fish. It's a type of eel known as a bobtail snipe eel. This unique creature is the only species in its group, called the Cyema genus. It lives in the deepest parts of the ocean all around the world.

People call it by many names, like the bobtail eel, snipe eel, scissorjaw eel, or arrow eel. This eel can grow up to about 16 centimeters long, which is roughly the size of a small ruler. We don't know a lot about this mysterious fish because it's very rare. Scientists have only seen it a few times.

The Cyema atrum eats tiny things floating in the water. Its diet includes small fish larvae, zooplankton (tiny animals), copepods, amphipods (small crustaceans), and even tiny krill. Instead of just swallowing its food, this eel has a special way of eating. It uses its comb-like teeth to sweep food from the water. It does this by quickly moving its head from side to side.

What is the Cyema atrum?

The Cyema atrum is a type of deep-sea eel. It belongs to a family of fish called Cyematidae. This eel is special because it's the only species in its entire genus, Cyema. This means it's one-of-a-kind!

Where does the Cyema atrum live?

This eel lives in the very deep parts of the ocean. It can be found at depths from about 330 meters (1,080 feet) down to an incredible 5,100 meters (16,700 feet). That's deeper than most mountains are tall! It lives in the dark, cold waters of the deep sea all over the world. However, it's more often seen near places like South Africa, Chile, Panama, the United States, New Zealand, and Australia.

Appearance and Unique Features

The Cyema atrum has a very unusual look. Its tail is shaped quite strangely, which is why it's called a "bobtail" eel. It has tiny fins on its sides and very long jaws. Its eyes are also very small.

Why is the Cyema atrum so dark?

This eel is mostly dark in color. This dark skin probably helps it hide in the deep, dark ocean where it lives. It might also help it absorb any light from other creatures, making it almost invisible. Some other deep-sea fish, like ridgeheads, use this trick. Their dark skin can absorb almost all light, making them disappear in the darkness. Scientists think the Cyema atrum might do something similar, but they haven't proven it yet.

What's special about its tail and mouth?

One amazing thing about this small fish is how its body changes. As its body gets thinner towards the tail, you can actually see its spine through its skin! This makes its tail look a bit like a leaf from a tree.

Another interesting feature is its mouth. It's very narrow at the end but becomes very wide at the base, near its head. Its mouth also extends far past its tiny eyes. This wide-opening mouth gives it a slight resemblance to a gulper eel, which are known for their huge mouths.

Does it move up at night?

Unlike some other deep-sea creatures, the Cyema atrum does not swim up closer to the surface at night. It stays deep in the ocean all the time.

Reproduction

Scientists do not have much information about how the Cyema atrum reproduces. Because it is so rare and lives in such deep waters, it is very hard to study.