A bizarre fish was captured from the depth, and some wondered what it was because it didn't look like a typical fish, as its eyes seemed out of place.
Alien-Like Fish From the Ocean
Russian fisherman Roman Fedortsov shared a new photo on Instagram about his recent catch. The fish seemed to have its eyes on the center of its head, and it had sharp teeth. Based on the snap, the fish has a dark body.
One said the fish was an "alien." Another asked if there were three eyes with one on top of its head.
A different commenter wondered if the fish has a migrating eye. Another suggested that it was probably due to the angle of the camera, which was why the fish appeared different.
Fedortsov loves to share his rare finds from the ocean on social media. Earlier this year, he also uploaded a snap of a prehistoric sea creature that looked like an eel due to its long body. However, it has a snake-like head with 300 teeth.
Some called fish a "real dinosaur." Some noticed its rows of white teeth and jokingly said the fish might have brushed them often. Others couldn't believe that the animal was real.
Apparently, it was real, and it was a frilled shark. Frilled sharks have lived for 80 million years, but only little is known about them because they settle in the deep ocean.
As for Fedortsov's recent catch, the fisherman said it was a halibut.
What Is Halibut?
Halibut is a flatfish that lives in deep waters of the ocean. It is the largest flatfish in the world. Halibut is a versatile fish because it can be prepared in many ways with a mild flavor and firm texture.
This fish is a good source of niacin, phosphorus, selenium, vitamin B12, and zinc. They are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, according to Crowd Cow.
Why did the halibut look like an alien fish in the photo? According to Oceana, halibut have both eyes on the same side of their heads and live on the seafloor, lying on their blind side.
Halibut is one of the several "right-eye flounders," as both of their eyes are on the right side of their head. However, it isn't the case all their lives.
Halibut resembles normal fish with eyes on each side of its head. As they mature, the bones on the left side of the skull grow significantly faster than on the right, so the left eye and nostril slowly migrate to the right side. The jaws do not change significantly, so the adults bide sideways from right to left.
Pacific halibut are large, active predators. They eat a variety of medium-sized fish and invertebrates.
Since halibut are highly desirable to consumers, they have been targeted commercially for over a decade. However, they are well-managed and are far from going extinct.
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