
Barreleye Fish is not very big. The average size is around 15 centimeters (6 inches), the species can grow up to 44 centimeters or (~17.3 inches). 30. Barreleye Fish Fun Fact: The fish lacks lateral vision. That is, it cannot see sideways. It can see upward and forward.
How much does a barreleye weigh?
They're ferocious hunters. Usually, they weigh between 400 to 800 pounds. The Barreleye is a tropical or temperate fish that can be found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. Although there are numerous adaptations for seeing in near-total darkness, the barreleye fish is one of the most bizarre creatures in this regard.
Is the barreleye a real fish?
A real-life barreleye. The barreleye ( Macropinna microstoma) (also known as the spook fish) is a deep-sea fish found in tropical-to-temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. It has been known to science since 1939, but was never photographed until 2004.
What do barreleyes eat?
Barreleyes are typically deep-dwelling fish, living at depths of over 2000 feet below the surface. They feed primarily on zooplankton, using their sensitive tubular eyes to track down prey in even the dimmest light conditions. Despite their unusual appearance, barreleyes are strong and resilient fish that have adapted well to life in deep waters.
What is the habitat of a barreleye fish?
These fish typically occur in deep, cold ocean waters, often at depths of several hundred meters or more. In these habitats, Barreleye fish are able to take advantage of the abundant food supplies and stable water conditions that characterize these environments.

How much does a barreleye fish weigh?
They are fierce hunters. The average length is roughly 10-13 feet long, and weigh about 440-880 lbs. The Barreleye fish are normally found around the tropical or temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans.
What does a barreleye fish eat?
The main source of food for barreleyes are likely zooplankton, microscopic animals that are plentiful in the ocean. Biologists can tell what these fish eat because of their elongated intestines and multiple caeca (lateral dilations of the gut), which are common in species specialized to digest these kinds of plankton.
Is the barreleye fish rare?
A necessary physiological trait as the barreleye's mouth doesn't point upward, but rather to the side. Despite the fact that MBARI's recorded more than 27,600 hours of deep-sea video, the organization's only seen the barreleye nine times. Which, of course, makes it a seriously rare fish.
Is there a dragon fish?
dragonfish, also called sea moth, any of about five species of small marine fishes comprising the family Pegasidae and the order Pegasiformes. Dragonfish are found in warm Indo-Pacific waters. They are small (to about 16 centimetres [6 1/2 inches] long), elongated fish encased in bony rings of armour.
Why do barreleye fish have fake eyes?
To better serve their vision, barreleyes have large, dome-shaped, transparent heads; this presumably allows the eyes to collect even more incident light and likely protects the sensitive eyes from the nematocysts (stinging cells) of the siphonophores, from which the barreleye is believed to steal food.
What is the rarest fish on Earth?
Indeed, the bottomless geothermal pool that gives the Devils Hole pupfish (Cyprinodon diabolis) their name — plus some frisky mating behavior that resembles puppies playing — is the narrowest geographic range of any vertebrate. And with only 175 total fish at last count, they're the rarest fish on the planet.
What fish lives the deepest in the ocean?
The fish that currently holds the depth record is a species of cuskeel (family Ophidiidae) called Abyssobrotula galatheae. This 20 cm long fish has been collected from the Puerto Rico Trench at a depth of 8,370 m (27,455 feet).
What are the rarest fish in the ocean?
Devils Hole pupfish are likely the world's rarest fish, and their population dropped to 35 in 2013. Researchers have since made a breakthrough in their captive breeding.
What is the lifespan of a barreleye fish?
One particularly interesting aspect of Barreleye fish is their very long lifespan, which has been estimated to be as long as several hundred years. This longevity is primarily due to Barreleye fish's ability to adapt to difficult environmental conditions in the deep ocean.
How many eyes do barreleye fish have?
twoMeet the barreleye This peculiar fish is known for its strange eyes — two bright green upward-pointing orbs that are visible through the transparent dome on its forehead.
Is the barreleye fish endangered?
Not extinctBarreleye / Extinction status
What zone does the barreleye fish live in?
ocean twilight zoneThe fish live in the ocean twilight zone, which lies about 650 to 3,300 feet (200 to 1,000 m) underwater; specifically, barreleyes live about 2,000 to 2,600 feet (600 to 800 m) beneath the ocean surface, near the depth where the water plunges into complete darkness, according to MBARI (opens in new tab).
What zone do Barreleye Fish live in?
The Barreleye fish is a deep-sea creature that inhabits the dark, cold waters of the mesopelagic and bathypelagic zones.
What is the lifespan of a Barreleye Fish?
No one really knows for sure how long Barreleye Fish live. Some scientists believe that they can live up to 20 years, while others believe that the...
Why do Barreleye Fish have transparent heads?
The Barreleye Fish is a deep sea creature that is known for its strange, transparent head. This unique adaptation allows the fish to see its prey f...
How do Barreleye Fish see?
The barreleye fish is an unusual creature found in deep water. It has a large, transparent head and intriguing eyes that point upwards. Researchers...
What makes a Barreleye Fish such a unique fish?
There’s something unique about the barreleye fish, and it’s not just their wriggly, transparent heads. These deep-sea fish are some of the stranges...
What are some fun facts about Barreleye Fish?
[1] Barreleye Fish have eyes that rotate within their sockets, so they can see in all directions. [2] Barreleye Fish can change color to match thei...
Description
The morphology of the Opisthoproctidae varies between three main forms: the stout, deep-bodied barreleyes of the genera Opisthoproctus and Macropinna, the extremely slender and elongated spookfishes of the genera Dolichopteryx and Bathylychnops, and the intermediate fusiform spookyfishes of the genera Rhynchohyalus and Winteria .
Lifecycle
Barreleyes inhabit moderate depths, from the mesopelagic to bathypelagic zone, circa 400–2,500 m deep.
External links
MBARI press release, Researchers solve mystery of deep-sea fish with tubular eyes and transparent head, 23 February 2009. Includes photographs and video of Macropinna microstoma.
The barreleye might look like a submarine, but its transparent head is necessary to navigate the 2,500-feet-deep waters in which it lives
At first glance, the barreleye fish might look more like an alien creature than anything earthly. But the elusive barreleye is very much a real creature and it lives deep in our oceans.
Many Questions Remain Regarding The Spookfish
Poulsen et al Photographs and x-rays show the sole pigmentation patterns on different kinds of barreleyes.
