ExploreFish

Barreleye

Opisthoproctus grimaldii

The Barreleye fish has a transparent head and tubular eyes that can rotate to look upwards. It lives in the deep sea, where it uses its unique eyes to spot prey above.

Habitat: Deep Sea

Appearance

The Barreleye has a distinctive transparent, fluid-filled dome on its head, revealing its large, tubular, upward-pointing green eyes. Its body is generally slender and silvery-brown, with small, paddle-like fins. This unique head structure makes it visually different from most fish.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumCHORDATAClassActinopterygiiOrderOSMERIFORMESFamilyOPISTHOPROCTIDAEGenusOpisthoproctus

Barreleye

Interesting facts

Barreleyes often hang perfectly still in the water, waiting for dinner to drift right to them!

Scientists only first observed a live barreleye with its transparent head intact in 2004!

Their glowing green eyes act like sunglasses, helping them spot faint glowing prey!

They are also known as 'spook fish' because of their incredibly strange and ghostly appearance!

Special abilities

Barreleye has a transparent head that protects its delicate eyes, allowing it to see clearly in the deep ocean.

Barreleye can rotate its tubular eyes forward when hunting, helping it precisely target tiny prey from above.

Barreleye has specialized eye lenses that gather scarce light, helping it spot silhouettes of food in darkness.

Measurements & details

Length: 10-25 cm
Weight: 0.05-0.2 kg
Lifespan: 5-10 years
Swim Speed: 0.5 km/h
Max Depth: 1000 m
Water Type: Saltwater

Diet & Feeding

Barreleyes are carnivores that patiently ambush tiny crustaceans and other small deep-sea animals.

Primary Foods

Copepods
Small Crustaceans
Siphonophores
Gelatinous Zooplankton

Foraging Method

Ambush

Ecological connections

eats

Copepod

Calanus finmarchicus

A tiny, common crustacean, a staple food for many deep-sea fish.

eaten by

Fangtooth

Anoplogaster cornuta

This deep-sea predator has fearsome teeth for catching smaller fish.

eaten by

Black Swallower

Chiasmodon niger

A formidable deep-sea fish known for swallowing prey larger than itself.

Traits

Wildlife

Step into the incredible world of wild animals and plants living freely in nature. From tiny insects to towering trees, it's all part of the wild wonders around us!

Piscivorous

Discover amazing animals that love to eat fish! They're like expert underwater hunters, always on the lookout for a tasty meal from the rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Ambush Predator

Meet masters of surprise! These clever hunters hide quietly and wait patiently for their prey to come close before pouncing with a quick move.

Deep Sea

Plunge into the mysterious, dark depths of the ocean, where bizarre and wonderful creatures live under immense pressure! It's a world unlike any other.

Echolocation

Listen closely to animals that use special sounds to "see" in the dark! They send out sound waves and listen to the echoes to find their way and catch prey.