Female football fish can grow to lengths of 24 inches
(Picture: Crystal Cove State Park/ Facebook)A monstrous-looking fish usually found 2,000 feet under the ocean has been discovered on a beach in California.
The black creature, with claws for teeth, was pictured laying on the shore of Crystal Cove State Park’s Marine Protected Area in Laguna Beach last Friday.
The park shared pictures of the 18in fish on Facebook and identified it as being the Pacific Football Fish-one of more than 200 species of anglerfish worldwide.
“To see an actual angler fish intact is very rare and it is unknown how or why the fish ended up on the shore,” a park spokesman said.
“Only females possess a long stalk on the head with bioluminescent tips used as a lure to entice prey in the darkness of waters as deep as 3,000 feet.”
They added that females can grow to lengths of 24 inches while males only grow to be about an inch long.
The sole purpose of the male fish is to help a female reproduce.
The body of the fish is being held by the California Department of Fish & Wildlife and is expected to be studied for research and educational purposes.
“Seeing this strange and fascinating fish is a testament to the diversity of marine life lurking below the water’s surface,” the Crystal Cove State Park wrote on Facebook, before adding that “as scientists continue to learn more about these deep sea creatures it’s important to reflect on how much is still to be learned from our wonderful ocean.”
