Deep-Sea Anglerfish Exhibit Unprecedented Evolutionary Diversity

A Rice University-led study reveals how anglerfish adapted and diversified in the extreme, resource-scarce bathypelagic zone of the deep ocean.

Researchers used genetic analysis and 3D imaging to reconstruct the evolutionary history of anglerfish, tracing their origins from seafloor ancestors to deep-sea dwellers.
Despite the resource-poor and homogenous environment of the bathypelagic zone, anglerfish displayed remarkable diversity in body shapes and hunting strategies.
Key adaptations include bioluminescent lures, larger jaws, and compressed bodies, which helped anglerfish thrive in the perpetual darkness and limited food supply of deep waters.
The study challenges conventional evolutionary assumptions, showing that even extreme environments can foster significant adaptive radiation and phenotypic disparity.
Insights from this research contribute to understanding biodiversity in extreme ecosystems and may inform predictions about how life responds to environmental changes, including those driven by climate change.