A Rarity
Like most creatures that live at great depths, the Pacific footballfish is a rarity. The first specimen was collected in 1975 during a deep-sea trawl in Hawaii. According to the Natural History Museum of Las Angeles County, only 30 of these rare fish have ever washed ashore or been discovered in the wild.
Seaside Aquarium representatives wrote, “While a number of football fish have been recorded in New Zealand, Japan, Russia, Hawaii, Ecuador, Chile, and California, this is the first reported on the Oregon Coast to our knowledge. “
Prior to this case, the most recent sighting of the creature was in October 2023 when a female Pacific footballfish washed ashore at Crystal Cove State Park, California. Interestingly, in 2021 another female of the same fish was discovered on the same beach.
An Unusual Fish
The Pacific footballfish is a little different than other angler fish. Instead of having a single bulb to attract prey, they have many. Previous research has revealed that fish absorb, reflect, and produce light. Such a thing was not observed in other fishermen. Researchers believe this may make for more complex and attractive light shows for their prey. This light shows the lure prey near their mouth, and with one quick gulp, the unseen predator strikes. According to the California Academy of Science, the large rows of spiky teeth prevent prey from escaping.
Like most fishers, female Pacific footballfish are larger than males. Scientists call this sexual dimorphism. This size difference is the result of an evolutionary oddity called sexual parasitism. Males are like parasites and spend their entire lives looking for a female host. They cling to the first female they find and stay forever.
Seaside Aquarium representatives wrote, “How males find females in the dark is still unknown.” Scientists believe this is how angler fish evolved to thrive in the deep sea.
