A creature often called the most unattractive on the planet lives in the ocean. Scientists have discovered it. It is the telescope fish (Gigantura), a predator of the abyss whose unusual appearance seems utterly fantastic. But every feature of its structure is the result of a long evolutionary process that has enabled it to survive in conditions of extreme cold, monstrous pressure, and eternal darkness.
Its most distinctive feature is its eyes. The telescope fish’s eyes are enormous, tubular, and directed forward, creating the impression of staring into space. This shape allows it to capture even the faintest glimmers of light emitted by deep-sea creatures. Thanks to this, the fish is able to see where other creatures are completely blind and accurately determine the distance to potential prey.
Its mouth is no less unusual. For a relatively small body (only 15-20 cm long), this fish has an enormous mouth. Its jaws open so wide that the telescopefish can swallow prey twice its own size. This is a critical advantage in the deep-sea world, where food is extremely rare and the chance to eat may only arise once every few days.
Nature has even devised a defense against “exposure.” The fish’s stomach walls are painted a dense black, completely obscuring the glow of the bioluminescent prey it swallows. This allows the predator to remain undetected by other inhabitants of the dark.
As a reminder, scientists previously named the largest bird in history. It weighed over 900 kilograms.
To be continued…
Only registered users can leave comments