Tripod Fish

The Tripod fish (Bathypterois grallator) is named for its two elongated pelvic fin rays and tail, which the fish uses to balance on the ocean floor. They are deep sea, benthic fish, and they face into the current, waiting for prey to flow to them. They have very small eyes and presumably sense prey by vibration. Their front fins are very sensitive and, when prey is detected, these fins act like hands and guide the prey into their mouth.                                                        [photo of tripod fish found here]

Tripod fish are hermaphrodites; and, possibly because of sparse distribution, both sets of sex organs mature at the same time and, if they cannot find a mate, a tripod fish is capable of fertilizing its own eggs and reproducing alone.

 

Barreleye (Macropinna microstoma)

The barreleye fish’s eyes are tubular, light-sensitive, covered with green lenses, and are able to swivel within the transparent, fluid-filled dome on its head. The eyes point up  when searching for food above, and forward when feeding (the green eyes are looking up in the image — photo credit: MBARI, Bruce Robison and Kim Reisenbichler).

The two indentations above the mouth look like eyes, but are olfactosensory organs (nares), which are similar to human nostrils.

The barreleye’s unusual, transparent head was first discovered by Researchers from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) and photographed from MBARI’s remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The fish were found in deep waters (600-800 meters (2,000 – 2,600 feet) deep) off the central California coast.