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Bathyceratias

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Else Bostelmann illustration, 1934

Bathyceratias trilynchnus, the three-starred anglerfish, is a hypothetical species of anglerfish observed by William Beebe while in his bathysphere on 11 August 1934, at a depth of 2,470 feet (750 metres) off the coast of Bermuda.[1]

Description

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Beebe first witnessed the fish from a distance, with its light faintly reflecting on its back. Getting a clearer view once it swam into the beam of his bathysphere,[2] it was described as similar to the ceratias and cryptopsaras, but with a flattened mouth and short, even teeth. It was ovoid, black in color, six inches in length, and possessed three illicium, each tipped with a pale yellow light organ.[1]

Current status

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As with the other four species described by Beebe during his bathysphere dives, the three-starred anglerfish has not been observed since.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Beebe, William (1934). Half Mile Down (PDF). New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company. p. 211.
  2. ^ Matsen, Brad (2007). Descent: The Heroic Discovery of the Abyss. Knopf Doubleday Publishing. ISBN 9780307425492.
  3. ^ Ellis, Richard (2006). Singing Whales and Flying Squid: The Discovery of Marine Life. Lyons Press. p. 44. ISBN 9781461748960.