Black Anglerfish

Black Anglerfish: The Deep-Sea Black Seadevil The term "Black Anglerfish" most commonly refers to the deep-sea species Melanocetus johnsonii, also known as the Humpback Anglerfish or Black Seadevil. This species is infamous for its appearance, featuring a massive head, bulbous body, and a cavernous mouth lined with razor-sharp, backward-pointing teeth—a truly iconic creature of the deep ocean. Melanocetus johnsonii is found worldwide in the twilight (mesopelagic) and midnight (bathypelagic) zones, typically at depths between 660 and 4,920 feet (200-1,500 meters), where sunlight cannot penetrate. The female, which is the large, predatory form, can grow up to 7-8 inches (18-20 cm) long, while the male is tiny, sometimes less than an inch long, and non-parasitic. This species is a master of ambush predation, using a modified dorsal spine called the illicium, which has a bioluminescent lure (the esca) at its tip. It uses this glowing lure to attract unsuspecting prey in the pitch-black aby