Why does a male anglerfish attach itself to a female?
Here it is—the king of deep-sea horror and the most recognizable monster from ocean movies. The deep-sea anglerfish, or monkfish, is a legendary fish, terrifying with its jaws and iconic glowing rod. But is it really that dangerous?
In this video on the Planet Water channel, we dive into the darkest depths of the ocean to discover how this incredible predator survives. You'll learn why the anglerfish isn't the pinnacle of evolution, but rather a master of ambush with an extremely slow metabolism. We'll examine in detail how its bioluminescent lure (illicium and esca) works, why it needs luminous bacteria, and why, in pitch darkness, this trap can cost it its life.
Furthermore, we'll reveal one of the most terrifying mysteries of the underwater world: how anglerfish reproduce and why tiny males permanently attach to the female's body, becoming part of her. So, who is it really, compared to giant squids, hatchetfishes, and deep-sea sharks—a brilliant hermit or an evolutionary dead end?
Watch until the end to discover all the secrets of deep-sea fish! Tell us in the comments which of the Mariana Trench and deep-ocean inhabitants should we explore in the next episode: the hatchetfish or the mysterious vampire squid?
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Some footage in this video is taken from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) open sources.
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