Weird-Looking Fish With 'No Facial Features' Discovered Deep Below the Ocean’s Surface, Baffles Scientists
The deep-sea habitat is filled with stunning creatures, many of which remain a mystery for experts. One of them crossed paths with a team of scientists in 2017 in the Australian waters, according to LAD Bible.
The creature in question is Typhlonus Nasus, also known as the faceless cusk eel. At first glance, the fish's appearance astounded researchers. The creature did not seem to have any eyes, and possibly had a mouth underneath its body. For onlookers, it might seem that the being did not have any face at all. This creature crossed paths with the scientists aboard the research vehicle Investigator, off the east coast of Australia, around 2.5 miles below the ocean's surface at Jervis Bay.
Researchers are not surprised by the creature not having any discernible eyes, because it is a typical occurrence for fish in those depths, according to National Geographic. Furthermore, experts also found two spots on the creature's head that could be nostrils. Scientists believe it could be similar to the barreleye fish, another creature found in the deep sea whose nostrils seem like eyes.
The team initially thought that they had discovered a new species, stated Live Science. However, further research indicated that other specimens of T. nasus had been spotted before. It was first collected by the historic HMS Challenger, the first round-the-world oceanic expedition. Past examinations claimed that these creatures did have functioning eyes, but they were beneath the skin. The scientists believe the present Australian specimen is possibly the largest one that has been detected by experts worldwide, and it did not have discernible eyes. The discovery was valuable because the creature had reappeared in Australian waters after a century.
The identification of the specimen as a faceless cusk eel was done on board, according to Museum Victoria. The team was carrying a lot of literature with them, as they were surveying less-explored areas. A quick look at the books showed that HMS Challenger collected the specimens first in the 1870s. Researchers were still surprised because they were not expecting to cross paths with the creature.
Though these creatures are rarely seen, it is believed that they have a healthy population in waters from the Arabian Sea to Hawaii, stated Live Science. Experts think that the creatures usually feast on crustaceans, as their closely set teeth are best suited for that kind of food. As per the information available, experts believe the faceless cusk eel typically inhabits a relatively barren seafloor that exhibits a temperature of around 34 degrees Fahrenheit (1 degree Celsius). Researchers were hopeful that a further voyage would give them more samples, because the faceless cusk eel had been spotted in new locations like East Kalimantan, Borneo.
The plan did not come to fruition because the Investigator voyage was suspended in 2021 by the authorities, stated Museum Victoria. Though there were no safety concerns, experts thought that a review of the ship's high-pressure compression equipment should be conducted to avoid future issues. To date, the voyage has not been rescheduled.