Published 18:50 IST, July 17th 2020
How blackest fish disappears in the deepest sea? Mystery solved
Scientists have solved the mystery behind how the blackest fish in the deep sea is so extremely black and how they camouflage in a fish-eat-fish world.
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In a recent study, scientists have solved mystery behind how blackest fishes in deep sea are so extremely black and how y camoufl in a fish-eat-fish world in a bid to save mselves. As per research published in journal Current Biology, researchers revealed that fishes ‘ultra-black’ skin traps light which provides m with ultimate camoufl. y also explained that as re is where to hide from predators in deep ocean so ‘ultra-blackness’ renders creatures almost invisible.
As per study, fish like fangtooth, pacific black dragon, anglerfish and black swallower have modified shape, size and packing of pigment in ir skin to point that it reflects less than 0.5 per cent of light that hits it. researchers said that y studied nearly 16 species that fit its definition of ultra-black. Furr, researchers said that several ultra-black species appear independently to have evolved that exact same thick.
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Zoologist Karen Osborn of Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington and co-author of research said, “In deep, open ocean, re is where to hide and a lot of hungry predators. An animal’s only option is to blend in with background”.
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A basis for new ultra-black material
Osborn informed that very little sunlight penetrates more than 650 feet below ocean’s surface and some of se fish reside three miles deep. She explained that at such depths, bioluminescence, which is basically light emission by a living organism, is only light source. She also ded that some of ultra-black fish also have bioluminescent layers in dies to coax prey close eugh to be eaten.
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scientists believe that new study could provide m with basis for new ultra-black materials, such as coatings for interior of telescopes or cameras. As skin of se fishes among blacks material kwn, Osborn said that she discovered secret behind it while she was trying to photograph m after y were brought to surface. She also ted that fish skin absorbs light in such a manner that even in bright light y appeared to be silhouetted.
(Im: @alfonsomaria13, @bdmazur/Twitter)
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18:51 IST, July 17th 2020