A group of Spanish marine researchers has reportedly captured the first-ever footage of a rare deep-sea anglerfish swimming in daylight. The extraordinary sighting took place off the Canary Islands’ coast during an expedition led by Condrik Tenerife, a shark and stingray conservation organization.
Photographer David Jara Boguñá made the historic discovery, spotting the elusive humpback anglerfish—also known as the black sea devil—floating near the ocean’s surface. This species is typically found in complete darkness at depths of up to 1,500 meters, making this an unprecedented event in marine research.
The Mysterious Black Sea Devil
David Jara Boguñá / Condrik Tenerife via Storyful / Screenshot taken from FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul
The black sea devil is one of the most bizarre and terrifying creatures of the deep sea, The New York Times reports. With its dark, monstrous appearance, needle-sharp teeth, and a bioluminescent lure on its head, this predator uses its glowing appendage to attract unsuspecting prey in the abyss.
“This could be the first recorded sighting in the world of an adult black devil alive, in broad daylight and on the surface,” Condrik Tenerife shared in an Instagram post.
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The research team was only hoping to see pelagic sharks in the area. Surprisingly, the discovery stumbled upon the rare anglerfish.
Despite its eerie reputation, the fish is rarely observed, even in its natural deep-sea habitat.
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Why Did the Anglerfish Appear on the Surface?
Scientists are still debating why the anglerfish was seen near the surface, far from its usual deep-sea dwelling.
Some experts suggest that changing oceanic conditions caused by El Niño could be responsible. El Niño events are known to disrupt normal ocean currents, potentially forcing deep-sea creatures into shallower waters.
Others speculate that the anglerfish may have been sick or fleeing from a predator. Marine biologist Laia Valor, who was part of the Condrik Tenerife expedition, described the unusual moment:
“We were returning to port when I saw something black in the water. It didn’t look like plastic or debris—it seemed unusual.”
A Short-Lived Discovery
ABC News says that researchers spent about an hour observing the anglerfish before it ultimately died. They later transported the specimen to the Museum of Nature and Archaeology in Tenerife for further study.
Rare sightings like this offer valuable insights into deep-sea life, an area of the ocean that remains largely unexplored. While anglerfish have been captured on deep-sea cameras before, a live specimen at the surface in daylight is virtually unheard of.
The History of the Humpback Anglerfish
The first documented discovery of the Melanocetus johnsonii species dates back to 1863 when English naturalist James Yates Johnson found a specimen near Madeira, off the northwest coast of Africa.
His findings were later analyzed by zoologist Albert Günther at London’s Natural History Museum, who classified the fish as a new genus due to its unusual physical traits—most notably, the absence of pelvic fins.
Glimpse into the Ocean’s Darkest Depths
Deep-sea creatures like the black sea devil remain some of the most mysterious life forms on the planet.
In 2014, a group of divers from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) discovered a devil-looking fish. Later, they found out that it was the black sea devil.
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