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Fierce-Looking Fish

The ocean’s twilight zone teems with life. This little-known part of the ocean—200 to 1,000 meters (660 to 3,300 feet) below the surface—may have more fish biomass than in the rest of the ocean combined. Animals there are well-adapted to life in cold, dark waters. This viperfish (top) and dragonfish (bottom) make their own light to attract prey. Each has a bioluminescent lure, or esca, suspended like bait on a fishing rod from a spine or barbel. The light from these lures tricks zooplankton or small fish into approaching and becoming these fishes’ next meal. WHOI was recently awarded $35 million to explore and study this hidden ocean frontier.(Photo Courtesy of Joel Llopiz, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)