The coffinfish, scientifically known as Chaunacops coloratus, is a peculiar and intriguing deep-sea anglerfish.
1. Habitat and Distribution
Chaunacops coloratus, the rosy coffinfish, is a deep-sea dweller that has been observed at depths up to about 3,300 metres in the eastern North Pacific, well below the 2,500 metre (8,200 ft) figure often cited for the wider coffinfish family. The species itself is known from the eastern Indian Ocean off western Australia and the Cocos Ridge in the eastern Pacific, while other members of the family Chaunacidae range across the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans.
2. Physical Features
The coffinfish is a small, globular fish with a soft, gelatinous body. Its coloration varies from pinkish to reddish-orange, with some individuals exhibiting a mottled pattern. Similar to pufferfish, the coffinfish uses its inflatable gills to fill its body with water, a defence that makes it look larger and harder for predators to swallow. A 2019 anatomical study by Long and Farina also showed that these huge gill chambers let coffinfish hold their breath on the seabed for up to four minutes at a time, which probably saves energy in the food-poor deep sea.
Some of the most distinctive physical features of the coffinfish include:
- A large, upward-facing mouth with sharp teeth, which enables the fish to quickly engulf its prey.
- A modified dorsal fin spine, known as an illicium, which acts as a lure to attract prey.
- Short, leg-like pectoral fins that allow the fish to “walk” along the ocean floor.
3. Diet and Feeding Behavior
The coffinfish is an ambush predator that relies on its illicium to attract prey. Its diet primarily consists of small fish and crustaceans. It sits motionless on the ocean floor, using its pectoral fins to hold position and blend in with its surroundings.
Then, it extends its illicium, which is tipped with a bioluminescent lure, to attract prey. The lure mimics small, glowing organisms that are common in the deep sea, enticing curious fish and crustaceans to investigate.
4. Conservation Status
The rosy coffinfish was assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List in 2018, with no known major threats; it has a wide deep-sea distribution and is not targeted by commercial fisheries.
Conclusion
The rosy coffinfish is a striking deep-sea anglerfish that has been recorded as deep as roughly 3,300 metres on the Cocos Ridge in the eastern Pacific and off western Australia in the eastern Indian Ocean. Its inflatable gill chambers, breath-holding habit, and luring illicium are all neat solutions to life in a cold, food-scarce world. Listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, it is still a useful reminder of how much odd biology hides in the deep ocean.
Featured Image by: Chin Choi Serge, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
