Photos: “Alien” Deep Ocean Fish Found

There are plenty of strange creatures in the deeper parts of the world’s waters, but few are as sinister looking as this one. Photographs of this bizarre-looking deep sea critter were posted online by reddit user wolfboyx last month, who claimed to have found the fish while researching sperm whales in an undisclosed location. Experts have subsequently identified it as a black dragonfish.

Greatly resembling a cross between the chestbursters of the Alien universe and perennial Spider-Man villain Venom, the black dragonfish resides 5,000 to 7,000 feet below the surface. The fish is characterized by its wicked-looking teeth and bioluminescent photophores along its body, which light up when disturbed. Thankfully, the largest these underwater terrors can grow up to is about 15 inches in length, so it’s not likely to be much of a threat.

Because they live so deep underwater, very little is known about the dragonfish. Anglers and swimmers do occasionally see the creature in its larval stage, although they rarely recognize the tiny wriggling fish. When dragonfish give birth their eggs will float towards the surface. The larvae eventually return to the ocean depths once it matures.

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