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Size
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6 inches (15-cm) long
| Where are they found?
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These deep-sea fish are found in water as deep as 3330 ft (1015 m). Barreleye fish have been found in the Pacific Ocean, from the Bering Sea to Japan and Baja California, Mexico.
| What do they eat? |
Little is known about the barreleye, but scientists think they eat jellies.
| What eats them? |
Unknown, but every animal has a predator!
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Barreleye Highlights
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As you might have guessed, its common name describes its tubular eyes. (shaped like tubes). In the deep, being transparent isn't unusual. Having tubular eyes isn't new, either. But it wasn't until deep sea scientists from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) caught one on film that the barreleye's cool factor went up 100 points (okay scientists don't rate cool factor...but maybe they should). Scientists observed the fish's eyes pointing forward...then the eyes rotated upward, so the fish could see what was above it. It's eyes are like the most awesome periscope system ever!
In the deep, most animals hunt by looking up. They take advantage of what little surface light is available to spot a silhouette of something above. Having rotating eyes to see food above, then see it when it's near the mouth is a great adaptation.
The barreleye proves that observing animals in the deep via a submersible or ROV is THE best way to learn about them.
Transparent-Headed Fish
February 23, 2009--With a head like a fighter-plane cockpit, a Pacific barreleye fish shows off its highly sensitive, barrel-like eyes--topped by green, orblike lenses--in a picture released today but taken in 2004.
The fish, discovered alive in the deep water off California's central coast by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), is the first specimen of its kind to be found with its soft transparent dome intact.
The 6-inch (15-centimeter) barreleye (Macropinna microstoma) had been known since 1939--but only from mangled specimens dragged to the surface by nets.
