Barreleye
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
Category
FishRarity
Rare
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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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
Ability
See-Through Skull
Barreleye has a transparent head that protects its delicate eyes, allowing it to see clearly in the deep ocean.
Ability
Upward Gaze
Barreleye can rotate its tubular eyes forward when hunting, helping it precisely target tiny prey from above.
Ability
Low-Light Vision
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
- Maximum 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
Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
Piscivorous
Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish.
Ambush Predator
An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range.
Deep Sea
Deep sea habitats are characterized by extreme pressure, darkness, and cold temperatures, supporting unique life forms below the sunlit zone.
Echolocation
Echolocation is a biological sonar used by animals to navigate, hunt, and communicate by emitting sound waves and interpreting the echoes.
Aquatic
Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
Nocturnal
Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Barreleye fish live in the deep sea and are not encountered by people. They are not dangerous to humans.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Barreleye?
10-25 cm
How much does Barreleye weigh?
0.05-0.2 kg
How long does Barreleye live?
5-10 years
What does Barreleye eat?
Barreleyes are carnivores that patiently ambush tiny crustaceans and other small deep-sea animals.
How fast can Barreleye swim?
0.5 km/h
Where is Barreleye usually found?
Deep Sea
How does Barreleye hunt?
Ambush
How deep can Barreleye go?
1000 m
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