A rarely seen deep-sea creature made an unexpected appearance near the surface of the ocean, leaving researchers stunned. A humpback anglerfish (Melanocetus johnsonii), also known as the black seadevil, was captured on video last week off the coast of Tenerife, Spain. Experts believe this could be the first-ever live recording of the species in broad daylight near the ocean’s surface.
The eerie footage, shared by Condrik Tenerife researchers and photographer David Jara Boguñá, shows the anglerfish—known for its oversized mouth and needle-like teeth—swimming toward daylight. Typically found between 200 and 2,000 meters deep, this species is rarely observed outside its dark abyssal habitat.
Accompanied by the haunting Phantom of the Opera overture, the video was posted on Instagram with Boguñá remarking, “This could be the first recorded sighting in the world of a black demon alive, in broad daylight, and on the surface!!”
The reason behind the fish’s sudden rise to shallow waters remains unknown. Marine biologists speculate illness, disorientation, or predator evasion as possible causes. According to researcher Laia Valor, the anglerfish was in poor condition and survived only a few hours before being transferred to the Museum of Nature and Archaeology in Santa Cruz de Tenerife for further study.
Deep-sea anglerfish have previously been recorded via submarines or discovered washed ashore, but never in such an unusual setting. The sighting provides a rare opportunity for scientists to learn more about this elusive predator, which has long been shrouded in mystery.
Image/Source: MSN
