Scientists Capture Extremely Rare Footage of a Black Seadevil
A research team exploring the waters off the Canary Islands has documented an exceptionally rare sighting of a black seadevil anglerfish—only the second time this deep-sea species has ever been observed alive.
“For me, it was like a dream come true,” said David Jara Bogunyà, a marine wildlife photographer from NGO Condrik Tenerife. Alongside his colleagues aboard the research vessel Glaucus, Jara spent an hour swimming with and photographing the elusive creature, which typically resides in the dark depths between 650 and 6,500 feet below the ocean’s surface.
An Unbelievable Encounter
The black seadevil (Melanocetus johnsonii), whose name fittingly translates to “black sea monster,” is famous for its nightmarish features—massive jaws, needle-like fangs, and a glowing bioluminescent lure that attracts prey. Despite its terrifying appearance, this species only grows to about six inches in length.
The footage quickly caught the attention of marine experts, many of whom were stunned by the sighting. Kory Evans, a fish biologist at Rice University, admitted he was skeptical at first: “When I saw the video, I honestly thought it was AI-generated.”
Bruce Robison, a senior scientist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, underscored just how rare the encounter was. “Seeing a deep-sea species like this so close to the surface is incredibly unusual,” he said. Robison previously captured the only other known footage of a living black seadevil in 2014, when a remotely operated vehicle filmed one at 1,900 feet in Monterey Bay.
What Brought the Black Seadevil to the Surface?
Scientists remain puzzled as to why this deep-sea predator ventured so far from its usual habitat. Typically, black seadevils are ambush predators that remain still, hovering in the water as they wait for unsuspecting prey.
“Their whole strategy is about staying motionless,” explained Evans. “So seeing one actively swimming is shocking.”
While the exact reason for this behavior remains unknown, researchers are closely examining the footage, hoping to uncover new insights into this mysterious and rarely seen creature.
