OREGON, USA — Beachgoers were surprised by a creature of the deep just south of Cannon Beach.
According to the Seaside Aquarium, the Pacific football fish, or Himantoliphus sagamius, are rarely seen, as they live in complete darkness at 2,000 to 3,300 feet. Only 31 have been recorded around the world — New Zealand, Japan, Russia, Hawaii, Ecuador, Chile and California.
"This is the first one reported on the Oregon Coast, to our knowledge," Seaside Aquarium said.
The Pacific football fish, as anglers do, use the light shining from a phosphorescent bulb on their forehead to attract prey, which consists of anything that can fit in their mouths.
Only females hunt, though, as the smaller males are "more like parasites," as they fuse themselves to females, losing their eyes and internal organs in the process. In exchange, they get all their nutrients from the females.
Don't worry — the females get (sort of) something out of this, too: a "steady source of sperm," according to the Seaside Aquarium.
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