FISH WITH HEADLIGHTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21462, 8 April 1933, Page 4 (Supplement)

FISH WITH HEADLIGHTS

There are parts of the world's seas where tile depth of the water is more than five miles. No light reaches these gloomy deeps, and the pressure is such that a thick globe of the strongest steel would be crushed fiat, instantly. Yet in these great depths there live weird and wonderful fish. They are not crushed, since tho waier pressure inside them is the same as that outside. In tho darkness there would be constant collisions but for a wonderful provision of Nature. Every creature carries its own headlights. Illumination is furnished in a wonderful way. Certain microbes produce phosphorescent light. Some species of these form colonies, inhabiting tho scales of deep-sea fish, and every colony is seen as a glowing spot. Other types of fish possess their own lighting plants, being provided with special luminous scales. To enable them to make the most of the headlights of their neighbours, many of these deep-sea fish carry their eyes on long stalks. One of them has turned its lighting system into account in a very base way. A email headlight shines on a stem running from its nose and overhanging its Large lower jaw. Small fish swim up to investigate the light and the.jaw plosea jffith a, snaps