Invisible Marauder: Scientists have debunked the mystery behind the deepsea dragonfish's invisible teeth. Here how they lure their prey

Walt Disney's movie 'Finding Nemo' starkest scene in when a razor-sharp teethed dragonfish chases Marvin around trying to eat him. The most vivid picture is how it camouflages its teeth to make itself invisible to its prey.

Scientists have now debunked how the fearsome set of fang-like teeth remain invisible stating that the fish's teeth are covered in nanocrystals which prevents light being reflected off them making them invisible to their prey, as per recent research.

Scientists analysed the nanostructure of the teeth by using electron microscopy, which is a technique used to obtain high-resolution images of biological specimens. They discovered that like humans, dragonfish have an outer enamel-like layer and inner dentin later, according to a paper published in a science journal - Matter.

(Photo: Audrey Velasco)

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The paper explains that while the inner enamel resembles human teeth, the outer layer was covered in grain-sized nanocrystals arranged to prevent light being scattered or reflected off the surface of the teeth. This helps the dragonfish to lay in wait, keeping their teeth invisible to lure in prey.

Though deepsea- dragonfish measures just 15 centimeters, they are known to feed on fish that are up to half their size and also have a capability to indulge in cannibalism, eating each other, according to scientists.

Talking to an international news website, lead researcher Audrey Velasco-Hogan, a Ph.D. student at the University of California San Diego has explained the hunting techniques of these sea marauders which mainly aided by their transparent teeth.

“They spend most of their time sitting around with their jaws open, waiting for something to come by,” she said adding, "Their teeth are always exposed, so it’s important that they are transparent so they don’t reflect or scatter any bioluminescent light from the environment."

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The research done on the transparent nature of dragonfish teeth helps scientists gain a better understanding of deep-sea organisms like the dragonfish and the adaptations they evolved to live in their environments, according to Velasco. The findings could also provide inspiration for researchers looking to develop transparent ceramics say, researchers, which may drive marine technological innovation.