Coffinfish Facts, Habitat, Predators, Adaptations, Diet

The coffinfish, Chaunax endeavouri, is a type of anglerfish whose population is limited to a certain geographic location. It chooses to live in the moderate waters of the Pacific's southwestern region, where it may find enough food. This species' habitat is vast, and it may be spotted off Australia's east coast. These creatures of the deep sea are highly unusual in terms of appearance, habitat, nutrition, and defence methods. They are unlike any other sea creature in every way. They are possibly one of the weirdest fish because of their ability to walk on the ocean floor with their fins. 

Surprisingly, the coffinfish evolved slowly as a benthic ocean fish. Benthic fish are organisms that live in the ocean's depths. These colorful deep-sea creatures are intriguing. They are highly vivid, with orange, red, and pink bodies that are speckled with yellow and olive-green. Their mouth is fairly big and is filled with several little, but very sharp teeth. However, even though these 8.7-inch (22 cm) long sea creatures are not particularly big, they can inflate themselves with the help of their distinctive gill chambers.

Coffinfish Facts

The coffinfish's most distinguishing feature is its dorsoventral compression and loose skin covered in spine-like tiny scales. Their body is spherical and orange, red, and pink. On the body, there may also be yellow or olive-green dots. They use the skin as fins and are supported by spines, some of which are bony and others are horny. They walk on the ocean floor using two fins! 

They have a large mouth with pointed tiny teeth and a short lure behind their snout.The speed of this unusual fish is unknown at the moment. This fish can walk on the ocean floor with two of its fins and can be found at depths of 164-8202 ft (50-2500 m).

The coffinfish's weight has not yet been determined. Anglerfish species from the same family, on the other hand, weigh 26.45 lb (11 kg).

Coffinfish Predators

Coffinfish have a big mouth and eat a variety of things, including octopus, worms, and fish. This fish is an ambush predator that uses its lure to attract food, which it consumes as soon as it gets close. These deep-water creatures eat mantis shrimp, small squids, fish, turtles, and sea birds. These fish also have predators, notably cow sharks, against which they fight themselves by expanding their gill chambers. When they are inflated, they hold their breath. This makes it difficult for predators to devour them as they grow in size.

Coffinfish Adaptations

This deep-sea fish spends most of its time sleeping on the ocean floor, and this fish species has an unusual capability to hold its breath. These unusual fish can hold their breath for 4 minutes.  It is thought that they hold their breath to retain energy. This breath-holding technique helps them maintain their strength. Other animals, such as the catfish, elephant seal, sperm whale, and Weddell seal, can hold their breath underwater.

Coffinfish Diet

The Coffin Fish's basic food consists primarily of small fish, shrimp such as the Mantis Shrimp, small squid. They are self-sufficient creatures who want to be alone. Additionally, they are the only members of their family capable of walking.

Where does the coffinfish live?

This marine creature has been found in the saline temperate waters of the southwestern Pacific, off the east coast of Australia. It can be found in the ocean at depths ranging from 164 to 8202 feet (50 to 2500 m). This unique kind of fish is native to the Pacific Southwest Ocean.

How do they reproduce?

These fish lay a large number of eggs in rafts that are ribbon-like and buoyant (the precise number of eggs laid is unclear). These rafts aid in the transport of many tiny eggs over long distances to regions where they can mature properly. This fish's larvae are spherical and translucent, and after hatching, they swim to the ocean's surface to feed on plankton. When they reach maturity, they return to the ocean's depths.