Researchers from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) have captured high-resolution 4K footage of a rare deep-sea fish, Macropinna microstoma—also known as the barreleye fish. It is distinguished by a transparent, fluid-filled dome on the top of its head, through which its unusual eyes are visible.
The observation took place during an expedition aboard the research vessel David Packard off the coast of California. Scientists were working approximately 90 kilometers offshore when the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Doc Ricketts encountered the fish at a depth of about 600 meters, as reported by Oceanographic.
Over nearly four decades of deep-sea exploration, MBARI specialists have recorded only 11 encounters with this species. This new footage marks the first time the team has been able to capture the fish in 4K resolution and in a three-dimensional format.
The research was conducted by members of MBARI’s Biodiversity and Bio-optics group. The captured footage provides a detailed look at the anatomy of this rare inhabitant of the ocean depths.
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