Rare fish sighting thrills world's experts
See-Through: The juvenile spiderfish photographed at the Poor Knights.
Crispin Middleton
Marine scientists around the world are excited about the first sighting of a rare deepwater fish at the Poor Knights.
The 10cm translucent whisp captured by photographer Crispin Middleton has been identified as a juvenile spiderfish.
Ngunguru-based Marine specialist Wade Doak, who forwarded the photos to fish expert Andrew Stewart for identification, said these were the first photos taken of a spiderfish, alive and swimming at the Poor Knights.
"It has excellent camouflage," Mr Doak said. "It looks like jellyfish or salp and has total translucency which would mean it is seldom preyed upon."
Mr Stewart said there were five recorded species in the Bathypterois genus in deep waters around New Zealand.
The iconic deep-sea animals were not common above 1500m depth.
Juveniles are known to live near the surface, descending to the dark, unlit depths when they mature. The genus is sometimes known in other parts of the world as tripod fish or feelerfish.
Spiderfish species grow up to 45cm and most have wing-like, ultra-sensitive fins to prop themselves on the seabed. They use their fins to herd crustaceans into their mouths and needle-sharp teeth. They are thought to be almost sightless because of the blind, dark depths they inhabit.
Mr Doak has posted information and Mr Middleton's photos on his website www.wadedoak.com
The 10cm translucent whisp captured by photographer Crispin Middleton has been identified as a juvenile spiderfish.
Ngunguru-based Marine specialist Wade Doak, who forwarded the photos to fish expert Andrew Stewart for identification, said these were the first photos taken of a spiderfish, alive and swimming at the Poor Knights.
"It has excellent camouflage," Mr Doak said. "It looks like jellyfish or salp and has total translucency which would mean it is seldom preyed upon."
Mr Stewart said there were five recorded species in the Bathypterois genus in deep waters around New Zealand.
The iconic deep-sea animals were not common above 1500m depth.
Juveniles are known to live near the surface, descending to the dark, unlit depths when they mature. The genus is sometimes known in other parts of the world as tripod fish or feelerfish.
Spiderfish species grow up to 45cm and most have wing-like, ultra-sensitive fins to prop themselves on the seabed. They use their fins to herd crustaceans into their mouths and needle-sharp teeth. They are thought to be almost sightless because of the blind, dark depths they inhabit.
Mr Doak has posted information and Mr Middleton's photos on his website www.wadedoak.com
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