The researchers completed a 35-day expedition around the Cocos Islands, an archipelago southwest of
“Pisces are the true fashionistas of the deep sea,”notes the expedition's chief scientist, Tim O'Hara, from the Victoria Museum Research Institute. “They come in all shapes and sizes, with light organs, decoys, beams turned into tripods or camouflage parts, huge eyes or no eyes. Each species is superbly adapted to extreme deep-sea conditions."
Researchers collected footage and discovered blind peopleeels at a depth of 5 km. At this depth, scientists also discovered a variety of bizarre fish — including spider fish (Bathypterois guentheri) with strange, elongated fins that help them stay above the ocean floor and catch small crustaceans as they swim by.
spider fish
Scientists have also found pelican eels (Eurypharynxpelecanoides), which have huge articulated jaws that allow them to swallow prey larger than themselves, and Sloan's toothed vipers (Chauliodus sloani), whose mouth is studded with sharp needle-like teeth, and luminous organs are located on the sides to attract prey. The marine protected area is also home to the high-finned lizardfish (Bathysaurus mollis), deep-sea bottom dwellers whose reproductive organs combine ovaries and testes, both active at the same time.
"The diversity of the invertebrate fauna is alsoimpressive, say the researchers. “We have collected all the families of black corals, as well as hundreds of species of crustaceans and echinoderms. Many of these species will be new to science."
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