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Angler Fish Research Paper

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Anglerfish in the Deep Sea
By Zaine Mani

The deep sea covers 70 percent of Earth and has been a mystery for humans since it was created. Only 5 percent of it has been explored! With the possibility of leaving the rest of it to hold species that we didn’t even know existed. One fish however that we do know exists is the anglerfish. The anglerfish is a very weird looking fish at first sight with its rough skin, rigid teeth and a unique hanging bulb in front of its face, but you will soon find out why it has these and many more features to survive the deep ocean.

Conditions of the Deep Sea:

The anglerfish lives down in the abyssal zone of the deep zone. This is roughly 4000m-6000m deep and is the bottom layer of the ocean with almost freezing water and intense pressure form the adaptations of the anglerfish. This far down in the sea means there is none or very little sunlight making it impossible for fish to see. Oxygen is also an important factor for the anglerfish. At the bottom of the ocean, oxygen is relatively scarce. The majority of oxygen at bottom depths of the ocean is brought in by very cold and relatively fresh (less salt) currents that start near the north and …show more content…

In the depths of the deep sea finding food to eat is scare and any opportunity they get, they need to take. Anglerfish can wiggle the esca to make it resemble a prey animal, which lures the anglerfish's prey close enough for the anglerfish to devour them whole. They are equipped with sharp teeth and powerful jaws, this allowing any prey they catch to not escape. The anglerfish also can extend its jaw and stomach to an incredible size. This is very important because the anglerfish can swallow prey twice the size of its body. Having this adaptation means when times are scare and they cannot find any prey, they will have food already stocked

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