Bathypterois viridensis is one of several tripod fishes seen on the expedition thus far.
Tripod Fish
Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Gulf of Mexico 2017.
Bathypterois viridensis is one of several tripod fishes seen on the expedition thus far. Bathypterois spp. perch on their elongated fin rays and often face into the current, waiting for food to drift or swim by. These fishes have diminutive eyes; rather they use their modified fin rays as tactile organs to sense prey and predators. This individual was seen during Dive 03, in an area being referred to as “Okeanos Ridge.” All tripod fishes are thought to be synchronous hermaphrodites, meaning they have active male and active female reproductive organs at the same time. Download larger version (jpg, 958 KB).
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