Sea devil facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sea devils |
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| Krøyer's deep sea angler fish, Ceratias holboelli | |
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Ceratiidae
T. N. Gill, 1861
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Ceratias |
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Sea devils are amazing deep-sea anglerfish. They belong to the family Ceratiidae. You can find these fish in all the world's oceans, from warm tropical waters to the freezing Antarctic. They are one of the most common types of anglerfish.
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What Are Sea Devils?
Sea devils are a special kind of fish that live very deep in the ocean. They are part of a larger group called anglerfish. These fish are known for their unique ways of living and finding partners.
Size Differences: Males and Females
Female sea devils are much larger than males. The biggest species is called Krøyer's deep sea angler fish, or Ceratias holboelli. Its females can grow up to 1.2 meters (about 4 feet) long.
Males, however, are tiny! They only reach about 14 centimeters (about 5.5 inches) at their largest. When scientists first found these fish, they thought the small males were actually parasites living on the females.
Finding a Partner in the Deep Sea
Male sea devils are born with a very strong sense of smell. They have special organs that help them detect scents in the water. Their main goal in life is to find a female.
Because males are so small, it's hard for them to find food in the deep ocean. In some species, their stomachs even stop growing. This means they cannot eat at all. So, a male must find a female quickly to survive. Their amazing sense of smell helps them find the special chemicals, called pheromones, that female anglerfish release.
The Unique Life Cycle of Sea Devils
When a male sea devil finds a female, something incredible happens. He bites onto her skin. Then, he releases a special chemical that helps his mouth and her body skin join together. They become connected, even down to their blood vessels.
Becoming One: A Permanent Bond
After they join, the male slowly changes. He loses his digestive organs, then his brain, heart, and eyes. He becomes just a pair of reproductive organs. These organs release sperm when the female is ready to lay eggs. This special way of joining makes sure that the female always has a mate ready when she needs one. A single female can even have several males attached to her!
Natural Chimeras
Sea devils are the only animals we know of that naturally become "chimeras" as part of their life cycle. A chimera is when one organism is made of cells from two different individuals. In this case, the male and female literally fuse together.
