Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

Lateral line organs along sides

of body sense water currents

made by prey.

VIPERFISH

The viperfish is only 12 in (30 cm) long,

but it is a fearsome hunter. It floats with

the spine on the dorsal (back) fin held over its

head. The tip of the spine glows, attracting curious fish.

The viperfish stabs its victim with its long lower fangs,

then swallows it, using its curved teeth to prevent the

victim from escaping.

ANGLERFISH

Dozens of

different anglerfish

patrol the ocean depths.

They are similar to their relatives, the

shallow-water anglerfish, in the way they fish

for food. They use a long, flexible spine on

their back as a fishing rod. A glowing lure

on the end of the spine acts as bait.

BIOLUMINESCENCE

Hundreds of deep-sea fish glow
in the dark, including anglerfish,

lantern fish, and slickheads.
They make their own light by a

process called bioluminescence.
The light is produced by a

chemical reaction in parts of
the body called photophores; it

may be a general glow or a pattern
of spots. The lights may be bright (as a

signal from a fish looking for a mate),
or they may be a pale glow, for

camouflage in the dull light.

GULPER
EEL
Some kinds of
gulper eel grow to
more than 6.5 ft (2 m)
in length. Gulper eels
look as if they consist of a
mouth and a tail, unless they have
fed well, when the stomach bulges
hugely. Like many deep-sea fish,
gulper eels are often black or dark
brown. The gulper eel shown
above is about 24 in (60 cm) long
and has tiny teeth. It feeds on
small prey, simply by swimming
along with its mouth open.

Deep-sea areas

South

America

North

America

Asia

Africa

THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA form the largest wildlife

habitat on Earth. In waters below about 3,000 ft (1,000 m),

no plants can grow because there is no sunlight. Yet, here,

in the vast blackness, many extraordinary creatures live.

These animals are found nowhere else. They have adapted

to survive where the water pressure is up to 1,000 times

that at the surface. Some deep-sea fish feed on the bodies

and remains of plants and animals that sink down from

the water above. Some other fish have enormous mouths

and long, back-curved teeth for grabbing and swallowing

anything that swims by. These fish have huge stomachs

that stretch to hold prey that is even bigger than

themselves. On the deep-sea floor, sea anemones, worms,

sea cucumbers, brittlestars, crabs, prawns, and other

shellfish sieve the mud searching for tiny particles of

food. Many kinds of deep-sea squid, shrimps, and

jellyfish are also found here.

The lure may be shaped like

a blob, tassel, flap, or fringe,

depending on the species.

This map shows the deep-sea areas of the world.

Australia

Mouth gapes
open to offer
the best chance
of catching
small fish and
other prey.

LANTERN FISH

The lantern fish lives in the dim water hundreds

of feet below the surface. With its large eyes it

watches for predators as it eats tiny floating

plants and animals. Scientists are not sure why

the spots along its body glow—perhaps to help

the fish recognize other lantern fish, see food,

or confuse enemies.

Thin body and long

the 1930s Depression of

eel group.

Deep-sea wildlife 155-

Flexible spine

on back

Light

organs run

along the

sides of

the body.

155