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Another Deep Sea Fish Washes Ashore In Crystal Cove State Park
A deep-sea anglerfish is displayed at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris in 2019.
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Topline:
For the second time in three years, a rarely seen Pacific Footballfish washed ashore at Crystal Cove State Park in Newport Beach. The deep-sea creature was spotted last week and is one of 30 Pacific Footballfish ever found.
What we know: The Pacific Footballfish is not exceptionally rare in its natural habitat between 650 and 3,000 feet below sea level, but finding one on shore is. Only 30 Pacific Footballfish have ever been found by scientists since the species was discovered in 1985.
State wildlife officials say they think this latest Footballfish is female because only they have that long stalk on their heads with a bioluminescent tip used to lure prey in pitch black water.
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Last week's discovery is the fourth reported Pacific Footballfish to show up on Southern California beaches in the last three years. The last one one was found in Crystal Cove State Park in 2021. Two more were found in San Diego that same year.
The Pacific Football fish is one of 200 species of angler fish. The discovery of an intact fish will help expand marine scientists’ understanding of the species.
What's next: Much like the fish from two years ago, this one was handed over to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for further study. Once researchers are done, there’s a chance it will head to the Natural History Museum for display.
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