Barreleye

Barreleye Fish With Transparent Head

Barreleye Uses Its Head To Catch Prey

Mar 22 2009 Scott Miller Pets Corner

This amazing fighter-plane shaped fish with a transparent head is one of nature's wonders.

The Pacific Barreleye lurks 2000ft below sea level off the coast of California.

Skulking through the dark, inky water, they hunt other fish and jellyfish by looking directly upwards through their clear head.

Topped by green, orb-like lenses, its eyes filter out what little sunlight makes it down from the surface, allowing it to focus on the bioluminescence of small jellies or other prey passing overhead.

Then the eyes rotate forward to follow the fish before it homes in for its dinner.

Using a remote operated vehicle (ROV), the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute capture this astonishing creature in its native environment. Check out Youtube to see it for yourself.

　　这种怪异的深海鱼被称之为“Barreleye”(学名大鳍后肛鱼)，长着一个透明的脑袋和管状的眼睛。Barreleye的眼睛对光线极为敏感，并且能够在鱼头上充满液体的透明防护体内旋转，它的管状眼睛长在头内，被亮绿色的晶体盖住。如图所示，当搜寻头顶上方的食物时，Barreleye的眼睛就会指向上方；摄食的时候，眼睛就会指向前方。鱼嘴上方的两个小点可绝不是眼睛，而是嗅觉器官鼻孔，与人类的鼻孔类似。