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Viperfish and dragonfish specimens collected from mesopelagic zone.

Viperfish and dragonfish specimens collected from mesopelagic zone.
Viperfish and dragonfish specimens collected from mesopelagic zone.
Viperfish and dragonfish specimens collected from mesopelagic zone.
Viperfish and dragonfish specimens collected from mesopelagic zone.
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292911
Llopiz, Joel
Viperfish and dragonfish specimens collected from mesopelagic zone.
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06/19/2016
graphics/Armstrong_SVC6-Llopiz/IMG_6443.jpg
Image Of the Day repeat caption:
The oceans twilight zone teems with life. This little-known part of the ocean200 to 1,000 meters (660 to 3,300 feet) below the surfacemay have more fish biomass than in the rest of the ocean combined. Animals there are well-adapted to life in cold, dark waters. This viperfish (top) and dragonfish (bottom) make their own light to attract prey. Each has a bioluminescent lure, or esca, suspended like bait on a fishing rod from a spine or barbel. The light from these lures tricks zooplankton or small fish into approaching and becoming these fishes next meal. WHOI was recently awarded $35 million to explore and study this hidden ocean frontier.
Image Of the Day caption:
A team of WHOI researchers on the R/V Neil Armstrong encountered these unusual-looking specimens last summer, about 100 miles off the southern coast of New England. They collected the fish at night, between about 300 and 600 meters (980 and 1970 feet) below the surface, using a multi-net system called a MOCNESS. Both viperfish (top) and dragonfish (bottom) live in near darkness, in whats known as the mesopelagic or twilight zone. To attract their prey, the fish use a bioluminescent lure, or esca, suspended like bait on a fishing rod from either a dorsal spine, in the case of the viperfish, or a chin barbel, as with the dragonfish. The animal uses the light to trick zooplankton or small fish into approachingand becoming the next meal.
Photo by Joel Llopiz
© Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
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