Off the coast of Tenerife, Spain, an adult black devil fish (Melanocetus johnsonii) was discovered swimming near the ocean surface in broad daylight, astonishing the scientific community. On January 26, near the coast of Playa San Juan in the municipality of Guía de Isora, the elusive deep-sea creature was spotted only two kilometers from the shore.
The black devil fish, also known as the abyssal anglerfish or black seadevil, is renowned for its striking appearance and predatory behavior, characterized by large teeth and a monstrous shape, despite its modest size of no more than 18 centimeters. Typically inhabiting depths between 200 and 2,000 meters, and occasionally as deep as 3,000 to 4,000 meters, it is extremely rare to find the species near the sea surface.
The discovery was made by a team from Condrik Tenerife, a non-governmental organization dedicated to research, conservation, and dissemination about sharks and rays on the island. The team was conducting a research campaign on pelagic sharks when they accidentally encountered the black devil fish and documented the moment on social media. The video they published went viral, causing great excitement among viewers.
"We saw it when we were already returning to port. We passed by it and I saw something black that didn't look like plastic or anything; it seemed strange to me. After seeing it, we spent a couple of hours with it. It was damaged and not in good condition; it only lasted alive a few hours. We don't have anything clear, but it's not normal," said marine biologist Laia Valor, who was part of the discovery team, according to El Universal.
The fish was injured and died a few hours after being spotted in the hostile conditions near the surface—a fact that many have considered poetic. After its death, the body of the black devil fish was transferred to the Museum of Nature and Archaeology in Santa Cruz de Tenerife for further analysis, providing scientists with a rare opportunity to study this enigmatic creature up close.
Scientists are not sure why the black devil fish surfaced, but possible explanations include suffering from a disease, an upwelling current, or fleeing from a predator, with some suspicions linked to climate change.
Only larvae or dead adult specimens of the black devil fish had been recorded until this sighting. It may be the first recorded sighting in the world of a live adult black devil fish in shallow waters, in broad daylight, and at the surface.
The black devil fish is known for its sharp teeth and bioluminescent appendage, which glows due to symbiotic bacteria and helps it attract prey in the pitch-black depths of the ocean. With the glowing lure, the fish attracts its prey, and when a victim approaches, it flips the lure in front of its face.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq