1Life in the Midnight Zone
Deep beneath the ocean waves, far below where scuba divers can swim, there is a mysterious place called the Midnight Zone. This zone starts about 3,000 feet (1,000 meters) below the surface! In this world of endless night, the water is freezing cold and the pressure is very high. Because sunlight can never reach these depths, animals like the anglerfish have had to develop incredible superpowers to survive in the total darkness.
2Living Flashlights
The most amazing thing about the anglerfish is its built-in flashlight, which scientists call bioluminescence. This glow doesn't come from batteries! Instead, it comes from millions of tiny, glowing bacteria that live inside a special piece of skin. This skin hangs from a long spine called an illicium, which looks just like a fishing rod growing out of the fish's forehead. It is a perfect example of symbiosis, where the bacteria get a safe home and the fish gets a bright light to help it see.
3The Ultimate Deep-Sea Trap
The anglerfish uses its light for more than just seeing where it's going; it is a master of disguise and hunting. By waving its glowing lure around, it tricks curious shrimp and smaller fish into swimming closer. Once the prey is in range, the anglerfish snaps its massive, toothy jaws shut! Because food is hard to find in the deep ocean, anglerfish have very stretchy stomachs that allow them to swallow prey that is actually twice as big as their own bodies. They can even flash their lights in patterns to talk to other anglerfish across the dark water.
