The Conservation Report

The hadal snailfish, a deep-sea specialist, has been captured on camera feeding on bait almost 5 miles below the ocean’s surface. This is the first time this species has been observed living, and it is only known from a handful of specimens trawled up over 50 years before.  These fish must sustain immense pressure, and conserve energy to survive in their deep-sea extreme environment. From National Geographic News:

The fish belong to a species previously known only from five pickled specimens trawled up by Russian scientists in the 1950s, said Monty Priede, director of Oceanlab at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, which co-sponsored the expedition.

“Not only have we shown these fish alive for the first time, but we have multiplied by five the total number known to science,” Priede said.

The fish are able to withstand pressures equivalent to “1,600 elephants on the roof of a Mini,” according to a press release. The largest of the 17 snailfish observed measure more than 12 inches (30 centimeters) long.

Centered image credit: Natural Environment Research Council and University of Aberdeen