Why do deep sea fish look like aliens?

Deep sea fish often have a strange and space-shaped appearance. But what are the reasons for these interesting changes?

The strange appearance of deep sea fish is largely due to the special environmental conditions in which they live. The deep ocean is characterized by low and, in some cases, no light, high pressure, low availability of food, and cold temperatures. In this way, to survive in this harsh ecosystem, deep sea fish have developed unique adaptations to the environment.

One of these adaptations is the development of special jaws for hunting prey. Deep-sea fish such as the Sloan viper have huge jaws with razor-sharp teeth that can hide and catch prey in the right position. In addition, other fish, such as the pelican eel, have mouths that can capture and swallow large prey found in deep-sea food deserts.

More than 75% of deep sea fish lack the ability to produce light by themselves. In the meantime, some fish, such as the female black sea dog or angler fish, use the shining light at the end of the part connected to their head to attract prey. Bioluminescence can also be used as a cloaking mechanism to match the surrounding light and hide from potential enemies.

Also, the deep sea environment also exerts a lot of pressure, which leads to adaptations such as the soft and flexible body of pufferfish. Bubble fish lacks a strong skeleton, which makes the body of this species not damaged by the crushing pressure of the deep sea.

In general, the strange and space-shaped appearance of deep-sea fish is the result of their adaptation to survive in the extreme conditions of the deep ocean. These adaptations help them find food, attract mates, defend against predators, and thrive in an environment that is very different from what we are used to on land.