Grumpy Sladenia Anglerfish on the Seafloor

OET’s Corps of Exploration came across this especially grumpy-looking Sladenia anglerfish while exploring the deep ocean within the Bikar and Bokak National Marine Sanctuary of the Marshall Islands. Using ROV Hercules, we examined this fish at over 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) deep on a ridge's slope, in the first exploration of this protected region's depths. This fish’s facial expressions enthralled our team as they observed it in its natural habitat on the seafloor. Sladenia anglerfish are “sit-and-wait” predators that stay still on the seabed and use their lure to attract prey.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands is an atoll-based country of over 1,200 islands surrounded by 2.13 million square kilometers of ocean, the vast majority of which has never been mapped or surveyed. Despite data gaps, it’s known that the deep sea of Aolepān Aorōkin Ṃajeḷ hosts rich and diverse marine resources, including these amazing animals, over 300 unexplored seamounts, extensive deep-sea ridges, and escarpments. This expedition was developed in collaboration and consultation with the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority and other local stakeholders and funded by NOAA Ocean Exploration via the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute.