During a deepsea expedition this fall, MBARI researchers happened upon the elusive dreamer anglerfish (Oneirodes sp.). This fascinating fish was filmed with MBARI’s remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Ventana, 781 meters (2,562 feet) deep in Monterey Canyon. In 35 years of deepsea exploration, MBARI’s ROVs have completed more than 7,300 successful dives and recorded more than 28,400 hours of video, yet we have only encountered the dreamer anglerfish nine times. MBARI’s last observation of Oneirodes was in 2016. This encounter marked MBARI’s first opportunity to film a deepsea anglerfish in 4K.

The unusual appearance of Oneirodes—ultrablack skin, a luminous lure, and sharp teeth—ensures survival in one of the most challenging environments on Earth. Anglerfishes have bioluminescent lures to attract a meal. Their ultrablack skin absorbs the lure’s light concealing their giant mouth just beyond the lure. In fact, the dreamer anglerfishes are the blackest of black fishes known in the ocean. This “invisibility cloak” also keeps them hidden from predators.

The ROV Ventana recently completed its 4,500th research dive. This is the most science dives logged by a single ROV to date. The trove of deepsea video filmed by the entire fleet of MBARI’s robots helps scientists document the diversity of life that dwells in the ocean’s depths and better understand humanity’s connection to the deep sea.

More about this exciting sighting: https://www.mbari.org/news/freshfrom...
Learn more about this fascinating group of deepsea fishes: https://mbari.co/anglerfish
Watch more ultrablack fishes:    • The best way to hide in the deep sea:...  
Learn more about ROV Ventana’s recent milestone: https://www.mbari.org/news/mbarisrem...

Video producer/editor: Kyra Schlining
Science advisors: Christine Huffard, Karen Osborn, Ted Pietsch, and Bruce Robison
Video production team: Heidi Cullen, Madeline Go, Nancy Jacobsen Stout, Susan von Thun
Music: Angler by Catechism (https://cccatechism.bandcamp.com/)

References:
Davis, A.L., K.N. Thomas, F.E. Goetz, B.H. Robison, S. Johnsen, and K.J. Osborn (2020). Ultrablack camouflage in deepsea fishes. Current Biology, 30: 3470–3476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2020.06...

Luck, D.G. and T.W. Pietsch (2008). Insitu observations of a deepsea ceratioid anglerfish of the genus Oneirodes (Lophiiformes: Oneirodidae). Copeia, 2008(2): 446451. doi.org/10.1643/CE07075