INTO THE DEEP:
The Anglerfish
Lillian Duenas GEOL105
SOURCES
Edmonds, P. (2016, December). Anglerfish, taking romantic attachment to a whole new level. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/article/basic-instincts-ceratioid-anglerfish Haddock, S. H. D., Moline, M. A., & Case, J. F. (2010). Bioluminescence in the sea. Annual Review of Marine Science, 2, 443-493. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-marine-120308-081028 Isakov, N. (2022). Histocompatibility and reproduction: Lessons from the deep-sea anglerfishes. Frontiers in Immunology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.883761 Katz, B. (2018, March 26). Elusive deep-sea anglerfish seen mating for the first time. Smithsonian Magazine / Smart News. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/rare-footage-captures-mating-deep-sea-anglerfish-180968584/ Monterey Bay Aquarium. (n.d.). Deep-sea anglerfish. https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/animals-a-to-z/deep-sea-anglerfish National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2023). Deep ocean exploration facts. NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research. https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov New Scientist. (2020, August). Deep-sea anglerfish fuse bodies to mate thanks to an odd immune system. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2250429-deep-sea-anglerfish-fuse-bodies-to-mate-thanks-to-an-odd-immune-system/ Pietsch, T. W. (2005). Dimorphic sexual parasitism in deep-sea ceratioid anglerfishes. Copeia, 2005(4), 781–793. https://doi.org/10.1643/0045- 8511(2005)005[0781:DSPIDS]2.0.CO;2 Swann, J. B., Holland, S. J., Petersen, M., Pietsch, T. W., & Boehm, T. (2020, July 30). Deep-sea anglerfishes have evolved a new type of immune system. UW News. https://www.washington.edu/news/2020/07/30/deep-sea-anglerfishes-have-evolved-a-new-type-of-immune-system/ “Anglerfish and Their Weird Mating Habits.” (2023, February 16). ExplorersWeb. Kristine De Abreu. https://www.explorersweb.com/anglerfish-weird- mating-rituals/ Save Our Seas Foundation. (2021, October 11). Anglerfishes, immunity & organ transplants. https://saveourseas.com/anglerfishes-immunity-organ- transplants/ Science. (2024, May 23). To conquer the deep sea, anglerfish turned to flesh-melding sex. Science Magazine. https://www.science.org/content/article/conquer-deep-sea-anglerfish-turned-flesh-melding-sex Wired. (2020, July 31). The anglerfish deleted its immune system to fuse with its mate. WIRED. https://www.wired.com/story/the-anglerfish-deleted-its- immune-system-to-fuse-with-its-mate/
MEET THE DEEP-SEA ANGLERFISH
WHAT DO WE KNOW?
Females can grow up to 3.3 ft long; males are only a few centimeters Their stomach can expand to fit fish up to 2X their size Uses a glowing lure (esca) to attract prey in total darkness The only light in their habitat comes from bioluminescence or the animals themselves Lives in pressures >500x that at sea level
Scientific Name: Lophius piscatorius Diet: Carnivore (fish, crustaceans, cephalopods, mollusks) Habitat: Bathypelagic AKA 'Midnight' zone ~1,000-4,000 meters (3,300 - 13,100 feet) below the surface Known Species: 200+ Identified (NOAA, 2023)
(common anglerfish, although names change based on exact species of anglerfish)
VARIOUS ANGLERFISH SPECIES https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/fish/anglerfish-relatives
Why Should We Care?
- The anglerfish provides valuable information about deep-sea health conditions & is a perfect example of evolution / survivability adaptations.
- They teach us how life can survive in such extreme conditions (darkness, depth, limited food/mating resources, extreme pressure) which could potentially apply to life beyond Earth, if it exists.
- The anglerfish's immune system and ability to fuse with their mate without biological rejection has been looked at as a source of information for human transplant & immunobiology discoveries.
- These fish are easily overlook as their interactions with human are extremely rare.
- The constant threat to overall ocean sustainability (overfishing, ocean acidification, and an increase in low-oxygen zones in the ocean) could wipe out entire species and cause irreversible changes in deep-sea food webs. (Monterey Bay Aquarium)
- The loss of deep-sea food webs would result in a loss in deep-sea dwellers; which would pose irreversible damage on the ocean & Earth's climate.
- Few creatures are as resilient as the anglerfish, who have overcome extreme living conditions through unique adaptations that allow them to survive in one of the deepest, darkest parts of the ocean.
Medical & Marine Bio Researchers:
Who Should Care?
FUNFACT: This is a Batfish (a subspecies of the anglerfish). They are using their pectoral fins as feet to 'walk' along the oceanfloor.
CALL TO ACTION:
How Do We Help? What Does This Species Need?
Support Exploration, Not Exploitation
Spread Awareness, Spark Conversation
Fund and follow programs that seek to learn from the ocean- not exploit it. NOAA Ocean Exploration is the only U.S. federal program dedicated to mapping, studying, and protecting the deep sea. Sharing their discoveries helps raise awareness and funding for research before industries, like deep-sea mining, destroy these fragile ecosystems.
Conversation IS consrvation. The more we talk about the ocean and the life within it, the more people can come together and fight to protect our ocean. Sharing knowledge and encouraging others to do their own research opens the door to empathy & advocacy.
Advocate for Ocean Protection
Push for a pause on deep-sea mining until researchers can fully assess its impact. Support laws and policies that fund marine research, protect biodiversity, and require strong environmental impact assessments.
The "Fishing Lure"
The "Illicium": The 'fishing rod' (which is actually a modified dorsal fin) that holds the esca
- The anglerfish’s light comes from a symbiotic relationship with bioluminescent bacteria in its lure.
- The bacteria glow through a chemical reaction:
Luciferin + Luciferase → Light
- "Using a muscular skin flap, a deep sea anglerfish can either hide or reveal its lighted lure." (Lu, 2020)
- A perfect example of mutualism- the fish provides nutrients, the bacteria provide light.
- Scientists study this glow for biomedical imaging, sustainable lighting, and environmental sensors (Haddock, 2010).
The "Esca": contains bioluminscent bacteria to lure in prey
Why It Matters:
In the deep sea, finding a mate is almost impossible, thus resulting in an anglerfish's parasitic mating style.Males attach to females permanently; fusing tissue and bloodstreams & losing their eyes and organs. Throughout the female lifespan, multiple males (up to 8) might fuse themselves with her in an effort to mate. The male becomes “merely an appendage of the female and entirely dependent on her for nutrition.”, supplying sperm when needed. (Pietsch, 2005) Deep-Sea Anglerfish have their own external mating style where females & males attach briefly & release sperm/eggs at the same time to fertilize in the deep sea water column.
https://www.science.org/content/article/conquer-deep-sea-anglerfish-turned-flesh-melding-sex
Both this image & the background image provide a visual example of how exactly the males use their mouths to attach themselves to the female angler fish, eventually fusing into her body and becoming one.
Unique Mating Ritual
THE ANGLERFISH
Lilli D.
Created on October 17, 2025
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Transcript
INTO THE DEEP:
The Anglerfish
Lillian Duenas GEOL105
SOURCES
Edmonds, P. (2016, December). Anglerfish, taking romantic attachment to a whole new level. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/article/basic-instincts-ceratioid-anglerfish Haddock, S. H. D., Moline, M. A., & Case, J. F. (2010). Bioluminescence in the sea. Annual Review of Marine Science, 2, 443-493. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-marine-120308-081028 Isakov, N. (2022). Histocompatibility and reproduction: Lessons from the deep-sea anglerfishes. Frontiers in Immunology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.883761 Katz, B. (2018, March 26). Elusive deep-sea anglerfish seen mating for the first time. Smithsonian Magazine / Smart News. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/rare-footage-captures-mating-deep-sea-anglerfish-180968584/ Monterey Bay Aquarium. (n.d.). Deep-sea anglerfish. https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/animals-a-to-z/deep-sea-anglerfish National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2023). Deep ocean exploration facts. NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research. https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov New Scientist. (2020, August). Deep-sea anglerfish fuse bodies to mate thanks to an odd immune system. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2250429-deep-sea-anglerfish-fuse-bodies-to-mate-thanks-to-an-odd-immune-system/ Pietsch, T. W. (2005). Dimorphic sexual parasitism in deep-sea ceratioid anglerfishes. Copeia, 2005(4), 781–793. https://doi.org/10.1643/0045- 8511(2005)005[0781:DSPIDS]2.0.CO;2 Swann, J. B., Holland, S. J., Petersen, M., Pietsch, T. W., & Boehm, T. (2020, July 30). Deep-sea anglerfishes have evolved a new type of immune system. UW News. https://www.washington.edu/news/2020/07/30/deep-sea-anglerfishes-have-evolved-a-new-type-of-immune-system/ “Anglerfish and Their Weird Mating Habits.” (2023, February 16). ExplorersWeb. Kristine De Abreu. https://www.explorersweb.com/anglerfish-weird- mating-rituals/ Save Our Seas Foundation. (2021, October 11). Anglerfishes, immunity & organ transplants. https://saveourseas.com/anglerfishes-immunity-organ- transplants/ Science. (2024, May 23). To conquer the deep sea, anglerfish turned to flesh-melding sex. Science Magazine. https://www.science.org/content/article/conquer-deep-sea-anglerfish-turned-flesh-melding-sex Wired. (2020, July 31). The anglerfish deleted its immune system to fuse with its mate. WIRED. https://www.wired.com/story/the-anglerfish-deleted-its- immune-system-to-fuse-with-its-mate/
MEET THE DEEP-SEA ANGLERFISH
WHAT DO WE KNOW?
Females can grow up to 3.3 ft long; males are only a few centimeters Their stomach can expand to fit fish up to 2X their size Uses a glowing lure (esca) to attract prey in total darkness The only light in their habitat comes from bioluminescence or the animals themselves Lives in pressures >500x that at sea level
Scientific Name: Lophius piscatorius Diet: Carnivore (fish, crustaceans, cephalopods, mollusks) Habitat: Bathypelagic AKA 'Midnight' zone ~1,000-4,000 meters (3,300 - 13,100 feet) below the surface Known Species: 200+ Identified (NOAA, 2023)
(common anglerfish, although names change based on exact species of anglerfish)
VARIOUS ANGLERFISH SPECIES https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/fish/anglerfish-relatives
Why Should We Care?
Medical & Marine Bio Researchers:
Who Should Care?
FUNFACT: This is a Batfish (a subspecies of the anglerfish). They are using their pectoral fins as feet to 'walk' along the oceanfloor.
CALL TO ACTION:
How Do We Help? What Does This Species Need?
Support Exploration, Not Exploitation
Spread Awareness, Spark Conversation
Fund and follow programs that seek to learn from the ocean- not exploit it. NOAA Ocean Exploration is the only U.S. federal program dedicated to mapping, studying, and protecting the deep sea. Sharing their discoveries helps raise awareness and funding for research before industries, like deep-sea mining, destroy these fragile ecosystems.
Conversation IS consrvation. The more we talk about the ocean and the life within it, the more people can come together and fight to protect our ocean. Sharing knowledge and encouraging others to do their own research opens the door to empathy & advocacy.
Advocate for Ocean Protection
Push for a pause on deep-sea mining until researchers can fully assess its impact. Support laws and policies that fund marine research, protect biodiversity, and require strong environmental impact assessments.
The "Fishing Lure"
The "Illicium": The 'fishing rod' (which is actually a modified dorsal fin) that holds the esca
- The bacteria glow through a chemical reaction:
Luciferin + Luciferase → LightThe "Esca": contains bioluminscent bacteria to lure in prey
Why It Matters:
In the deep sea, finding a mate is almost impossible, thus resulting in an anglerfish's parasitic mating style.Males attach to females permanently; fusing tissue and bloodstreams & losing their eyes and organs. Throughout the female lifespan, multiple males (up to 8) might fuse themselves with her in an effort to mate. The male becomes “merely an appendage of the female and entirely dependent on her for nutrition.”, supplying sperm when needed. (Pietsch, 2005) Deep-Sea Anglerfish have their own external mating style where females & males attach briefly & release sperm/eggs at the same time to fertilize in the deep sea water column.
https://www.science.org/content/article/conquer-deep-sea-anglerfish-turned-flesh-melding-sex
Both this image & the background image provide a visual example of how exactly the males use their mouths to attach themselves to the female angler fish, eventually fusing into her body and becoming one.
Unique Mating Ritual