In Spain, terrifying-looking marine creature emerges to the surface for the first time

It's a groundbreaking event: last January, a creature from the deep sea emerged from the shadows and surfaced off the coast of Tenerife (Spain).

On 26 January 2025, a Johnson's abyssal anglerfish, also known as the "black devil of the deep" (Melanocetus johnsonii), appeared off the coast of Guía de Isora, a small town located in the west of the island of Tenerife. This appearance was captured on video by members of the NGO Condrik Tenerife, according to the media outlet Demotivateur.

The scene, which was strange to say the least, is commented on by the organisation on Instagram: the fish rises to the surface of the water, “from the abyssal depths during a vertical swim”. According to Condrik Tenerife, it seems that the presence of the "black devil of the deep" in this region is an exceptional occurrence, a “first observation in the world of a living black devil, in broad daylight and at the surface”.

An occurrence that is making big waves

Wondering why this emergence is causing such a stir? Johnson's abyssal anglerfish typically lives between 200 and 2000 metres deep and is very rarely seen. This type of creature inhabits tropical and subtropical seas, specifies GEO.

The question then remains, how was this fish spotted so far from its natural habitat? Scientists explain that the phenomenon “may be due to an illness, an updraft current, or fleeing a predator”. Shortly after its appearance, the specimen unfortunately died. It was handed over to the Museum of Nature and Archaeology (Muna), in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Its wide jaw, luminous antenna on its head (a prey trap), long, sharp teeth, and black colour are what distinguish the "black devil of the deep" and give it a terrifying appearance.

(MH with Raphaël Liset - Source: Demotivateur - Illustration: ©Unsplash)