Scientists have set a record for the deepest fish ever observed at more than 27,000 feet off the coast of Japan
A face only a mother could love! Scientists have set a record for the deepest fish ever observed at more than 27,000 feet off the coast of Japan
- A juvenile snailfish was filmed 27,349 feet below sea level in the Pacific Ocean
- The lead scientist said it probably survived because of the warm water
A new record has been set for the deepest fish ever observed more than 27,000 feet below sea level in the Pacific Ocean, scientists say.
A juvenile snailfish was filmed in the Izu-Ogasawara Trench south of Japan swimming at 27,349 feet below sea level – almost the same elevation as Mount Everest.
Lead scientist Professor Alan Jamieson said the snailfish may be at the maximum depth a fish can survive, and it’s likely because of the warm water of the ditch.
Although the snailfish was not caught to fully identify its species type, similar snailfish were caught higher up at a depth of 26,319 feet, setting the record for the deepest fish ever caught.
Professor Jamieson told BBC News: “If this record is broken, it will be by increments of minutes, possibly by just a few metres.”
A juvenile snailfish (pictured left) was filmed swimming at 27,349 feet below sea level — almost the same elevation as Mount Everest — in the Izu-Ogasawara Trench, south of Japan
He added: “We predicted the deepest fish would be there and we predicted it would be a slug fish.
“I get frustrated when people tell me we don’t know anything about the deep sea. We do it. Things change very quickly.”
The deepest fish sighting to date was made at 26,830 feet further south in the Pacific Ocean in the Mariana Trench.
Snailfish are found in oceans around the world, with more than 300 different species currently known.
They are described as tadpole-like in shape, with larger heads and slender bodies.
The species adapted to deeper waters can withstand the enormous deep-sea pressure with the help of their gelatinous bodies.
Scottish-born Prof Jamieson is credited with discovering not only the deepest fish of our oceans, but also the deepest octopuses, jellyfish and squid.
Lead scientist Professor Alan Jamieson (pictured) said the snailfish may be at the maximum depth at which a fish can survive, likely because of the warm waters of the ditch
Although the snailfish was not caught to fully identify its species type, similar snailfish (pictured) were caught slightly higher at a depth of 26,319 feet, setting the record for the deepest fish ever caught
Images from higher up showed the same species of snail, but fully grown and in greater numbers
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-11930579/Scientists-set-record-deepest-fish-observed-27-000ft-coast-Japan.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 Scientists have set a record for the deepest fish ever observed at more than 27,000 feet off the coast of Japan