Wedsnesday’s WTF!?!: Clear Heads off the Californian Coast… You may be excused for thinking these images are more akin to something from a sci-fi movie or the result of some over-enthusiastic Photoshopper with too much time on their hands rather than anything that Mother Nature could come up with. With its weirdly cute but almost forlorn zombie-like appearance, this little aquatic anomaly just doesn’t seem like it could possibly be for real. These are, however, very much real images of a very much real creature: one Macropinna microstoma. A member of the Barreleye family, this 6-inch-spectacular is the only species of fish within the genus Macropinna.  It’s unusual dome-shaped head is fluid-filled and totally transparent. Within can be found the two greenish-coloured lenses of its eyes. These lenses, which are barrel shaped, can be rotated either forward or straight up, allowing the fish to observe prey as it hangs motionless in the water. Found at the inky depths of 600 - 800 metres, it is assumed that the fish detects prey in these low light conditions by way of silhouette or the bioluminescent glow of jellies. The two spots (themselves resembling eyes) located to the front of its head above its mouth are actually olfactory organs called nares, which are analogous to human nostrils. So there you go. This week’s WTF!?! in all its fluid-filled fabulousness! Smell ya later!… Still don’t believe your eyes? Watch the vid of Macropinna microstoma in action here Read the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute Info Blitz here 
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Wedsnesday’s WTF!?!: Clear Heads off the Californian Coast… You may be excused for thinking these images are more akin to something from a sci-fi movie or the result of some over-enthusiastic Photoshopper with too much time on their hands rather than anything that Mother Nature could come up with. With its weirdly cute but almost forlorn zombie-like appearance, this little aquatic anomaly just doesn’t seem like it could possibly be for real. These are, however, very much real images of a very much real creature: one Macropinna microstoma. A member of the Barreleye family, this 6-inch-spectacular is the only species of fish within the genus Macropinna.  It’s unusual dome-shaped head is fluid-filled and totally transparent. Within can be found the two greenish-coloured lenses of its eyes. These lenses, which are barrel shaped, can be rotated either forward or straight up, allowing the fish to observe prey as it hangs motionless in the water. Found at the inky depths of 600 - 800 metres, it is assumed that the fish detects prey in these low light conditions by way of silhouette or the bioluminescent glow of jellies. The two spots (themselves resembling eyes) located to the front of its head above its mouth are actually olfactory organs called nares, which are analogous to human nostrils. So there you go. This week’s WTF!?! in all its fluid-filled fabulousness! Smell ya later!… Still don’t believe your eyes? Watch the vid of Macropinna microstoma in action here Read the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute Info Blitz here 
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Wedsnesday’s WTF!?!: Clear Heads off the Californian Coast… You may be excused for thinking these images are more akin to something from a sci-fi movie or the result of some over-enthusiastic Photoshopper with too much time on their hands rather than anything that Mother Nature could come up with. With its weirdly cute but almost forlorn zombie-like appearance, this little aquatic anomaly just doesn’t seem like it could possibly be for real. These are, however, very much real images of a very much real creature: one Macropinna microstoma. A member of the Barreleye family, this 6-inch-spectacular is the only species of fish within the genus Macropinna.  It’s unusual dome-shaped head is fluid-filled and totally transparent. Within can be found the two greenish-coloured lenses of its eyes. These lenses, which are barrel shaped, can be rotated either forward or straight up, allowing the fish to observe prey as it hangs motionless in the water. Found at the inky depths of 600 - 800 metres, it is assumed that the fish detects prey in these low light conditions by way of silhouette or the bioluminescent glow of jellies. The two spots (themselves resembling eyes) located to the front of its head above its mouth are actually olfactory organs called nares, which are analogous to human nostrils. So there you go. This week’s WTF!?! in all its fluid-filled fabulousness! Smell ya later!… Still don’t believe your eyes? Watch the vid of Macropinna microstoma in action here Read the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute Info Blitz here 
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Wedsnesday’s WTF!?!: Clear Heads off the Californian Coast… You may be excused for thinking these images are more akin to something from a sci-fi movie or the result of some over-enthusiastic Photoshopper with too much time on their hands rather than anything that Mother Nature could come up with. With its weirdly cute but almost forlorn zombie-like appearance, this little aquatic anomaly just doesn’t seem like it could possibly be for real. These are, however, very much real images of a very much real creature: one Macropinna microstoma. A member of the Barreleye family, this 6-inch-spectacular is the only species of fish within the genus Macropinna.  It’s unusual dome-shaped head is fluid-filled and totally transparent. Within can be found the two greenish-coloured lenses of its eyes. These lenses, which are barrel shaped, can be rotated either forward or straight up, allowing the fish to observe prey as it hangs motionless in the water. Found at the inky depths of 600 - 800 metres, it is assumed that the fish detects prey in these low light conditions by way of silhouette or the bioluminescent glow of jellies. The two spots (themselves resembling eyes) located to the front of its head above its mouth are actually olfactory organs called nares, which are analogous to human nostrils. So there you go. This week’s WTF!?! in all its fluid-filled fabulousness! Smell ya later!… Still don’t believe your eyes? Watch the vid of Macropinna microstoma in action here Read the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute Info Blitz here 
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Wedsnesday’s WTF!?!: Clear Heads off the Californian Coast… You may be excused for thinking these images are more akin to something from a sci-fi movie or the result of some over-enthusiastic Photoshopper with too much time on their hands rather than anything that Mother Nature could come up with. With its weirdly cute but almost forlorn zombie-like appearance, this little aquatic anomaly just doesn’t seem like it could possibly be for real. These are, however, very much real images of a very much real creature: one Macropinna microstoma. A member of the Barreleye family, this 6-inch-spectacular is the only species of fish within the genus Macropinna.  It’s unusual dome-shaped head is fluid-filled and totally transparent. Within can be found the two greenish-coloured lenses of its eyes. These lenses, which are barrel shaped, can be rotated either forward or straight up, allowing the fish to observe prey as it hangs motionless in the water. Found at the inky depths of 600 - 800 metres, it is assumed that the fish detects prey in these low light conditions by way of silhouette or the bioluminescent glow of jellies. The two spots (themselves resembling eyes) located to the front of its head above its mouth are actually olfactory organs called nares, which are analogous to human nostrils. So there you go. This week’s WTF!?! in all its fluid-filled fabulousness! Smell ya later!… Still don’t believe your eyes? Watch the vid of Macropinna microstoma in action here Read the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute Info Blitz here 
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Wedsnesday’s WTF!?!: Clear Heads off the Californian Coast… You may be excused for thinking these images are more akin to something from a sci-fi movie or the result of some over-enthusiastic Photoshopper with too much time on their hands rather than anything that Mother Nature could come up with. With its weirdly cute but almost forlorn zombie-like appearance, this little aquatic anomaly just doesn’t seem like it could possibly be for real. These are, however, very much real images of a very much real creature: one Macropinna microstoma. A member of the Barreleye family, this 6-inch-spectacular is the only species of fish within the genus Macropinna.  It’s unusual dome-shaped head is fluid-filled and totally transparent. Within can be found the two greenish-coloured lenses of its eyes. These lenses, which are barrel shaped, can be rotated either forward or straight up, allowing the fish to observe prey as it hangs motionless in the water. Found at the inky depths of 600 - 800 metres, it is assumed that the fish detects prey in these low light conditions by way of silhouette or the bioluminescent glow of jellies. The two spots (themselves resembling eyes) located to the front of its head above its mouth are actually olfactory organs called nares, which are analogous to human nostrils. So there you go. This week’s WTF!?! in all its fluid-filled fabulousness! Smell ya later!… Still don’t believe your eyes? Watch the vid of Macropinna microstoma in action here Read the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute Info Blitz here 
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Wedsnesday’s WTF!?!: Clear Heads off the Californian Coast… You may be excused for thinking these images are more akin to something from a sci-fi movie or the result of some over-enthusiastic Photoshopper with too much time on their hands rather than anything that Mother Nature could come up with. With its weirdly cute but almost forlorn zombie-like appearance, this little aquatic anomaly just doesn’t seem like it could possibly be for real. These are, however, very much real images of a very much real creature: one Macropinna microstoma. A member of the Barreleye family, this 6-inch-spectacular is the only species of fish within the genus Macropinna.  It’s unusual dome-shaped head is fluid-filled and totally transparent. Within can be found the two greenish-coloured lenses of its eyes. These lenses, which are barrel shaped, can be rotated either forward or straight up, allowing the fish to observe prey as it hangs motionless in the water. Found at the inky depths of 600 - 800 metres, it is assumed that the fish detects prey in these low light conditions by way of silhouette or the bioluminescent glow of jellies. The two spots (themselves resembling eyes) located to the front of its head above its mouth are actually olfactory organs called nares, which are analogous to human nostrils. So there you go. This week’s WTF!?! in all its fluid-filled fabulousness! Smell ya later!… Still don’t believe your eyes? Watch the vid of Macropinna microstoma in action here Read the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute Info Blitz here 
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Wedsnesday’s WTF!?!: Clear Heads off the Californian Coast…

You may be excused for thinking these images are more akin to something from a sci-fi movie or the result of some over-enthusiastic Photoshopper with too much time on their hands rather than anything that Mother Nature could come up with. With its weirdly cute but almost forlorn zombie-like appearance, this little aquatic anomaly just doesn’t seem like it could possibly be for real. These are, however, very much real images of a very much real creature: one Macropinna microstoma. A member of the Barreleye family, this 6-inch-spectacular is the only species of fish within the genus Macropinna. 

It’s unusual dome-shaped head is fluid-filled and totally transparent. Within can be found the two greenish-coloured lenses of its eyes. These lenses, which are barrel shaped, can be rotated either forward or straight up, allowing the fish to observe prey as it hangs motionless in the water. Found at the inky depths of 600 - 800 metres, it is assumed that the fish detects prey in these low light conditions by way of silhouette or the bioluminescent glow of jellies. The two spots (themselves resembling eyes) located to the front of its head above its mouth are actually olfactory organs called nares, which are analogous to human nostrils.

So there you go. This week’s WTF!?! in all its fluid-filled fabulousness! Smell ya later!…

  • Still don’t believe your eyes? Watch the vid of Macropinna microstoma in action here
  • Read the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute Info Blitz here 

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