A dark tripod fish rests on a light sandy seabed, supported by its long, thin fin rays.
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Tripod Fish
During the third dive of the 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration expedition we saw several tripod fish standing on their fins on the seafloor. These fish face into the current and use their long appendages to sense food as it drifts by in the water column.
Credit

NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration