I have heard of these things, but I didn't realise they were quite so damn freaky...
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Barreleyes, also known as spookfish (a name also applied several species of chimaera), are small, unusual-looking deep-sea osmeriform fish comprising the family Opisthoproctidae. Found in tropical-to-temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, the family contains thirteen species in six genera (four of which are monotypic).
These fish are named for their barrel-shaped, tubular eyes which are generally directed upwards to detect the silhouettes of available prey; however, according to Robison and Reisenbichler these fish are capable of directing their eyes forward as well. The family name Opisthoproctidae is derived from the Greek words opisthe ("behind") and proktos ("anus").
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Opisthoproctus soleatus - a very strange fish
Labels:
center for fortean zoology,
fish,
new species,
weird fish
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