“Fishes for prey with a glowing lure in water blacker than ink.”

Deep below the reach of sunlight, the anglerfish solves the problem of "how do you find food in total darkness" with admirable showmanship: it grows a fishing rod out of its own head. The tip glows, thanks to colonies of light-making bacteria it keeps as tenants, luring curious prey straight toward an enormous mouth full of teeth. It's a respite-friendly fact that the famous nightmare face belongs only to the females. The males are tiny, harmless, and so committed to partnership that some species fuse permanently onto a mate, sharing her bloodstream forever — a romance arrangement we will not be examining too closely. Mostly the anglerfish just drifts in the dark, glowing gently, waiting with the patience of something that has all the time in the world.

Scientific name

Lophiiformes

Size

Varies wildly; many around 20 cm.

Habitat

The deep sea, often below 1,000 m.

Diet

Whatever swims close enough to the glowing lure.

Conservation

LC · Least Concern

Picnic threat level

Picnic threat: nil, unless your picnic is 1,000 m underwater.

Public domain illustration, via Wikimedia Commons · Learn more →