The autonomous underwater vehicle was exploring the slopes of a never-before-seen seamount in the waters around American Samoa in the Pacific Ocean when it stumbled upon the strange creature.
Deep-sea scientists were over-the-moon to find their favourite anglerfish while exploring a never-before-seen seamount.
During the E Mamana Ou Gataifale II expedition, Ocean Exploration Trust (OET) researchers were exploring the waters around American Samoa when they spotted the cute little critter.
“It’s our mascot on the Nautilus,” says one scientist. “There’s a sticker and everything.”
“This is a Chaunacops coloratus. It is a type of fish in the anglerfish family,” says a researcher in Nautilus Live’s video. “It’s got a little lure between the eyes – you see that little white line there – and it’s just really, really cute.”
“I have seen one swimming and it was, like, bopping its lure in and out – really fun,” adds her colleague.
Also known as a sea toad, the little fish waits calmly while the researchers gush about how much they love this species – exclaiming things like “from this angle it looks like a little unicorn” and “they’re just like little Pokémon” – then it opens its mouth and slowly starts swimming away.
“Another fun fact about these fish is the opening of their gills are behind the pectoral fins so, if it wants to, it can use it as a little jet,” explains a scientist – before the anglerfish gives them a demo of just that. “It’s trying to impress us, or scare us away,” she says.
People who want to see more weird and wonderful deep-sea creatures like this one can join OET’s live streamed expeditions at www.NautilusLive.org.
Main image and video credit: Nautilus Live. The E Mamana Ou Gataifale II expedition (NA165) is led by Ocean Exploration Trust and funded by NOAA Ocean Exploration, NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations Uncrewed Systems Operations Center, and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management via the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute in partnership with the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa and with support from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Air/Sea Heritage Foundation.
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