Facts about Dragonfish
- 08
Dragonfish larvae undergo a dramatic transformation called ontogenetic migration, moving from surface waters as transparent juveniles to the deep ocean as dark, bioluminescent adults over their first year of life.
- 07
Dragonfish scales contain a specialized black pigment that absorbs nearly all wavelengths of light, making them virtually invisible in the deep ocean despite their bioluminescent displays.
- 06
Female dragonfish develop a specialized tubular eye that rotates upward to detect silhouettes of prey backlit by faint bioluminescence above them.
- 05
A dragonfish's red bioluminescent lure dangling from its chin is invisible to most deep-sea prey, which cannot perceive wavelengths below 500 nanometers.
- 04
Most dragonfish species measure between 6 and 12 inches long, with females typically growing twice as large as males in their deep-sea habitat.
- 03
The dragonfish's expandable stomach can accommodate prey nearly as large as itself, allowing it to consume meals up to 10 times its own body weight in the food-scarce deep ocean.
- 02
Dragonfish possess needle-like teeth so large they cannot fully close their mouths, with fangs extending up to half their head length.
- 01
Bioluminescent photophores covering the dragonfish's body produce light through a symbiotic relationship with bacteria, allowing it to hunt in the ocean's midnight zone below 2000 feet.