FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
The barreleye fish is a deep-sea spook fish that is named so because it has barrel-shaped eyes capped with lenses that are green. The eyes are not the only peculiar thing about this fish. They are known for having a transparent head that fills with fluid and they are able to direct their eyes to see upward and forward. They also have big, flat fins. This species was not very well known until the 2000s. It is usually observed lying motionless with the help of its flat fins in deep-sea waters. While doing so, they turn their green-capped eyes upward to see their prey as well jellies, so that they can feed on the small animals hanging off their tentacles. According to the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute studies by marine biologists Kim Reisenbichler and Bruce Robison, their transparent heads and green pigmented eyes help in filtering out the sunlight reaching their deep-sea habitat. They prefer the mild, temperate, deep-sea waters in the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic oceans. More specifically, they have been observed in North Pacific marine waters, and off the coasts of places like Baja California, the Bering Sea and Japan.
For more relatable content, check out these facts about the longhorn cowfish and the bonito fish.
The barreleye fish (Macropinna microstoma) is a deep-sea fish.
The barreleye fish (Macropinna microstoma) belongs to the Actinopterygii class of animals.
The number of barreleye fish (Macropinna microstoma) in the deep waters of the world is unknown.
The barreleye fish (Macropinna microstoma) is a deep-sea fish that lives in the ocean, mostly in the North Pacific Ocean, off the Californian coast. It also exists in the Indian and Atlantic oceans. Deep waters ranging from Baja California to the Bering Sea to Japan also have barreleye fish populations.
Barreleye fish (Macropinna microstoma) prefer the temperate waters of the ocean. These animals exist at depths of 2,000-2,600 ft (600-800 m) in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. This fish lives in such a deep habitat because of its light-sensitive, green-capped, tubular eyes.
Barreleye fish (Macropinna microstoma) usually live and hunt alone.
The barreleye fish (Macropinna microstoma) wasn't a confirmed species until 2004, hence it is unclear how long this creature lives for as there is very little data about them available.
Barreleye fish (Macropinna microstoma) reproduce by the external fertilization of eggs. Males and females of these creatures both release their sperm and eggs respectively in the water, which then fertilize and mature. The parents do not show any kind of care for the fertilized eggs or the young.
The conservation status of the barreleye fish (Macropinna microstoma) has not been evaluated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Barreleye fish (Macropinna microstoma) typically grow to be up to 6 in (15 cm) long. These creatures have dome-shaped heads that are big and transparent. This fish is an overall brown color. When looking at a barreleye fish, its transparent head allows you to see its light-sensitive, tubular eyes, as well as its other organs, nerve endings, and brain. Barreleye fish have two holes in the front side that may look like eyes but are actually their olfactory organs for detecting smells, like human nostrils. The light-sensitive, tubular eyes have a green pigment that is for filtering the sun's rays. This is so that they can spot the natural luminescence of their preferred prey, jellyfish. Another thing that has been noticed about them, thanks to their transparent head, is that the fish's tubular eyes are capable of looking upward and forward. Most times, the eyes look upward to look out for the shadows of their prey. These creatures have big and flat fins that enable them to look motionless.
Barreleye fish (Macropinna microstoma) can be considered to be a very cute animal. It is definitely one of the most unique creatures because it has a transparent dome-shaped head! You can literally see inside this transparent head. It has two holes in the front of its face that look like eyes but are essentially a nose. Its actual tubular eyes can be seen through its head and it also has large fins that help it stay motionless. These tubular eyes are capable of seeing both upwards and forwards. It is a small, brown, and adorable creature. Even barreleye fish toys are commonly sold as well!
The barreleye fish (Macropinna microstoma) species communicates with its surroundings via its tubular eyes and its olfactory sense. Their eyes are always looking upwards for prey, but they can also move to look forwards. They have two holes in the front of their face that are olfactory organs and they can lie motionless with the help of their fins.
Barreleye fish (Macropinna microstoma) grow to be up to 6 in (15 cm), which makes them two times smaller than Spanish mackerel fish, and about 20 times smaller than the giant guitarfish.
It is unclear how fast barreleyes can swim since they have only been recently been confirmed and classified as a species.
Not much data has been gathered on this, but because of their small size, they can be assumed to weigh around 2-5 oz (57-140 g).
Male and female barreleyes do not have specific names.
A baby barreleye fish, just like any other fish juvenile, is called a 'fry'.
Barreleye fish (Macropinna microstoma) feed on jellies, other siphonophores, and crustaceans. When they're young they also feed on zooplankton.
No, barreleye fish are not dangerous to humans at all.
Barreleye fish are a relatively new species. They live deep in the sea and haven't been properly discovered yet, so there's no scope for them being taken as pets. Also, they're wild sea creatures, so they would not make good pets.
Anglerfish live at similar depths or even deeper than the barreleye fish.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute is responsible for the studies unraveling the purpose and use of the transparent heads by the barreleye fish.
Barreleyes are synonymous with the family Opisthoproctidae, which consists of fishes with barrel-shaped eyes living at similar depths.
Barreleye fish are truly rare creatures. Because they exist at great depths, they haven't been observed properly and not much is known about them yet.
Barreleye fish may be endemic to the marine waters of the North Pacific ocean, off the coasts of places like Baja California to the Bering Sea to Japan.
The barreleye fish is a photosensitive creature. According to Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute studies by marine biologists, Kim Reisenbichler and Bruce Robison, this fish needs to filter out the sunlight that is reaching it. The reason for this is so that it can see the jellies, which is its preferred prey, living above it. Barreleyes also have light-sensitive tubular eyes that mostly look upwards towards their potential prey and also aid in filtering out any sunlight, so their transparent head and fluid-filled shield at the top helps immensely.
There are some really unusual things about the barreleye fish. The first is that it has a transparent head or a transparent shield that is fluid-filled. The second is that it has light-sensitive, tubular, and 'barrel-shaped' eyes that mostly look upwards from the head towards its prey. However, as mentioned, barreleyes can also direct their eyes forward without maneuvering their head. How clever! Their head and eyes are capable of filtering out the light from the sun. The third unusual thing is that this fish has two holes in the front of its head that look like eyes, but they are actually its olfactory senses, much like human nostrils.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other fish from our Atlantic mackerel facts or giant grouper fun facts for kids.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Barreleye Fish coloring pages.
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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