A live female black seadevil anglerfish was filmed near the ocean surface off Tenerife on January 26, 2025. The encounter was extraordinary because Melanocetus johnsonii is a deep-sea fish normally associated with dark water hundreds or thousands of metres below the surface.
The video does not show the fish travelling all the way up from 2,000 metres, and scientists have not established why it appeared so close to shore. The animal later died, but its body is now helping researchers investigate one of the rarest surface sightings recorded for this species.
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What happened off Tenerife?
Researchers from the marine-conservation organisation Condrik Tenerife encountered the fish about 2 kilometres from shore near Playa San Juan, in GuÃa de Isora, Tenerife, as reported by National Geographic. It was daylight, and the animal was swimming close to the ocean surface—an environment very different from the deep-water habitat where black seadevils are usually found.
Marine photographer David Jara Boguñá recorded the encounter during an expedition aboard the vessel Glaucus. The footage became public in early February 2025, as reported by ABC News, and quickly spread online because the fish’s appearance seemed almost unreal: a dark, rounded body, a huge mouth, sharp teeth and a thin stalk projecting from its head.
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This was not the first time a black seadevil had been filmed alive. In November 2014, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) filmed one at approximately 580 metres in Monterey Canyon using the remotely operated vehicle Doc Ricketts, according to MBARI. The Tenerife recording is notable for a more specific reason: it may be the first documented footage of a live adult black seadevil at the ocean surface in daylight.
What is a black seadevil?
The black seadevil, also called the humpback anglerfish or black devil fish, is a deep-sea anglerfish in the family Melanocetidae. Its scientific name is Melanocetus johnsonii.
It is adapted for life where sunlight barely reaches or disappears completely. The fish’s most recognisable feature is its illicium, a modified dorsal-fin ray that forms a stalk above the mouth. At its tip is a bioluminescent lure. In the darkness, the glowing structure can attract prey close enough for the anglerfish to seize it with its large mouth and backward-pointing teeth, as described by MBARI.
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The species is generally associated with depths of roughly 200 to 2,000 metres, although the exact range varies among sources and individuals, including Discover Wildlife and MBARI. Despite its sinister appearance, it is not a monster or a threat to swimmers. The Tenerife fish was small, and the photographer reported that it showed no aggression toward the people filming it.
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There is no confirmed answer. Possible explanations mentioned after the sighting included illness, an unusual upward-moving current or escape from a predator. These are possibilities, not findings, as reported by Europa Press.
The footage does not record the animal’s complete ascent, so it is inaccurate to say that it was proven to have risen directly from 2,000 metres. Its normal habitat can extend to that depth, but the individual’s starting depth was not established.
There is also no evidence connecting the sighting with an earthquake, tsunami, El Niño or an approaching disaster. Online claims that the fish was a warning of the apocalypse are viral speculation rather than marine science. Its unusual appearance and location make the event rare; they do not provide evidence of a supernatural cause.
What happened to the fish?
The anglerfish survived only briefly after it was seen. Its body was collected and donated to Tenerife’s Museum of Nature and Archaeology, known as MUNA. Museum specialists confirmed the identification as Melanocetus johnsonii, according to the Museums of Tenerife.
On June 2, 2025, MUNA arranged a computed-tomography scan of the specimen. The examination produced cross-sectional images with 1-millimetre resolution. Researchers intended to study the animal’s internal anatomy and look for signs of pathology that might help explain its unusual appearance near the surface, according to the museum’s announcement.
The scan may provide useful clues, but the museum’s announcement did not establish that the fish was sick, dying or forced upward by a particular current. Until a scientific analysis demonstrates otherwise, the cause remains unknown.
Why the sighting matters
Deep-sea animals are difficult to study because pressure, darkness and distance make direct observation challenging. Many are known from damaged specimens, fishing catches or short recordings made by submersibles. A healthy-looking animal at the surface offers an unusual opportunity to observe its shape and behaviour in natural light, even if the circumstances that brought it there are unclear.
For pet owners, the black seadevil is also a useful reminder that an animal’s appearance does not tell the whole story. The fish’s teeth and glowing lure are specialised feeding tools, not signs that it hunts people. Unlike common aquarium species, it is not suitable for home care: its deep-sea biology, feeding needs and pressure requirements cannot be replicated in an ordinary aquarium.
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What the footage proves—and what it does not
| Supported by the evidence | Not established by the evidence |
|---|---|
| A female Melanocetus johnsonii was filmed near the surface off Tenerife on January 26, 2025. | The exact depth from which the fish came. |
| The species normally lives in deep water. | That it travelled directly from 2,000 metres to the surface. |
| The fish later died and its body was donated to MUNA. | That illness, a current or a predator definitely caused the surfacing. |
| The event may be the first daylight surface footage of a live adult black seadevil. | That it was the first footage of the species ever recorded. |
FAQ
What kind of fish was filmed near Tenerife?
It was a female black seadevil anglerfish, also called a humpback anglerfish or black devil fish. Its scientific name is Melanocetus johnsonii.
How deep do black seadevil anglerfish usually live?
They are generally associated with the deep ocean, at approximately 200 to 2,000 metres, although reported ranges vary. The Tenerife footage does not establish the depth from which that individual came.
Why did the black seadevil rise to the surface?
Scientists have not determined the cause. Illness, an upward current and escape from a predator were discussed as possible explanations, but none has been confirmed.
Was the black seadevil dangerous to people or suitable as a pet?
No. Its teeth and lure are adaptations for catching prey, and the fish showed no aggression toward the filming team. It is not suitable as a pet because its deep-sea environment and biological needs cannot be provided in a normal aquarium.
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The Tenerife footage shows a rare event: a live female black seadevil swimming near the ocean surface in daylight. It does not prove that the fish travelled from 2,000 metres, nor does it support disaster theories. Its cause remains unknown, while examination of the preserved specimen at MUNA may reveal more about why this deep-sea anglerfish appeared so far outside its usual habitat.
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