Tadpole snailfish
Nectoliparis pelagicus
- Not on exhibit
- Animal type
- Fishes
- Ecosystem
- Deep sea
- Relatives
- Other snailfishes
- Diet
- Shrimp
- Range
- Midwater (2,297–3281 feet, or 700–1,000 meters)
- Size
- Up to 2.4 inches (6 cm)
Meet the tadpole snailfish
This tiny fish wiggles like a tadpole, with its large head and narrow tail. It's soft and flabby—loose skin covers its jellylike body. The snailfish makes a tender meal for other deep sea fishes.
Conservation
Anything that finds its way into the ocean, whether it's tossed away as trash, washes off a beach or falls off a boat, may eventually make its way to the deep sea. It's important to realize that the deep sea is not so far away that it's beyond the reach of human activities. Living creatures in the deep are affected by what we do at the surface.
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