Incredibly Rare Deep-Sea Highfin Dragonfish Spotted Off California's Coast


May 4, 2022

When exploring in the ocean deep it’s not uncommon to come across some pretty alien-like lifeforms, but every now and then scientists stumble across something truly exceptional. Such an observation was recently made by researchers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) who captured on camera something they’ve only seen four times in more than three decades of deep-sea research: a highfin dragonfish.

The exceptionally rare fish was spotted by Senior Scientist at MBARI Bruce Robison and colleagues who were on board the research vessel Western Flyer. Known as the highfin dragonfish (Bathophilus flemingi), it was shimmering through California’s waters at a depth of around 300 meters (980 feet) just outside of Monterey Bay.

https://www.iflscience.com/plants-an...fornias-coast/