“Old Man” Sladenia Anglerfish in the Marianas

While diving on West Mariana Seamount (a never-before-explored shallow seamount in the waters of the Mariana Islands), our Corps of Exploration came across this Fathead Sculpin (Sladenia genus) fish. This spiky deep sea anglerfish presented us with some fantastic “facial experessions,” earning itself the fun nickname of “old man.” While we can’t be sure of the gender of this individual, we do know that these spine-covered fish are predators in the deep sea that use their lure to attract prey.

The Mattingan: Mariana Arc Volcanic Exploration (NA171) expedition is exploring deep-sea areas identified by the local management and science community, including sites with signatures of active volcanism, abyssal plain habitats, and areas in and around the Monument where new data can support resource management priorities. This expedition is supported by NOAA Ocean Exploration, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and the US Geological Survey via the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute.