Did you know that about 70% of our planet is covered by water? That’s more than half of the world we live in! The oceans are home to all sorts of amazing living things. You might have heard about dolphins, penguins, and even the blobfish. But have you ever heard of the anglerfish? Get ready to learn about this fascinating creature!
The anglerfish is a unique fish that lives in some of the deepest parts of the ocean, especially in the Atlantic Ocean. There are more than 200 different kinds of anglerfish! It gets its name from a long strand that grows from its head, called a lure. This lure acts like a fishing rod. The end of the lure glows like a light bulb, attracting curious fish right into the anglerfish’s mouth. This makes the anglerfish a fish that kind of … fishes!
Many anglerfish live in the coldest, deepest layer of the ocean, known as the midnight zone. This part of the ocean is so deep that no sunlight reaches it, making it completely dark. The only light comes from special living things, like the anglerfish, with its glowing lure. When little fish see the light, they swim up to it, and that’s when the anglerfish strikes!
Anglerfish are excellent hunters. They often hide in the sand and stick out their lure, waiting for their prey. Once another animal gets close enough, the anglerfish quickly snaps it up! They can even eat animals twice their size because they have huge mouths and stretchy bodies.
Here’s something cool: only female anglerfish have the special glowing lure. The females are much bigger than the males, who can be as small as your finger! The males can’t feed themselves when they grow up, so they latch onto a female by biting her and holding on with their teeth. Some females carry up to six males at a time!
Now you know that anglerfish are deep-dwelling, glow-in-the-dark, super hunters. They are just some of the fascinating creatures that live in our amazing oceans. Which ocean animals do you want to learn about next? If you’re curious about more ocean creatures or anything else, you can ask a grown-up to help you leave a comment or email SciShow Kids at [email protected]. Thanks for joining us on this underwater adventure!
Glow-in-the-Dark Experiment: Create your own glowing lure like the anglerfish! With the help of an adult, use glow-in-the-dark paint or stickers to decorate a small object, like a plastic spoon or a stick. Turn off the lights and watch it glow! Discuss why the anglerfish’s lure might be helpful in the dark ocean. How does it help the anglerfish catch its food?
Ocean Layers Exploration: Draw a picture of the ocean and its different layers. Label the sunlight zone, twilight zone, and midnight zone. Use different colors to show how light changes as you go deeper. Think about why the anglerfish lives in the midnight zone. What makes it a good home for them?
Role-Playing Game: Pretend to be an anglerfish! Use a flashlight as your glowing lure and try to “catch” other players who pretend to be little fish. Discuss how it feels to be a hunter like the anglerfish. What strategies did you use to catch your “prey”? How do you think the anglerfish uses its lure in the ocean?
