Re: Why do deep-sea fishes look so mean?

On Jan 27, 5:01 pm, Darwin123 <drosen0...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Jan 26, 4:41 pm, UC <uraniumcommit...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:>http://www.picspunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/a304_snakefish.jpg

and why are their mouths so much bigger in relation to the rest of the
body?

     Deep sea fish tend to have big mouths, big guts, long teeth, and
big eyes. This makes them look scary.
     For a predator, the risk incurred when prey escapes is much
larger in the deep sea than closer to the surface. Looking for prey is
harder. Therefore, variations that minimize the chances that the prey
escapes have a better chance to survive that variations that involve
swimming fast, or searching for prey.
      There is very little food in the deep sea environment.
Therefore, the animals of a given scale are farther apart than in the
shallower water. Therefore, average time between meeting of predator
and prey are much less. Therefore, the predators that grow relatively
large mouths, needle like teeth and large guts have a better chance of
survival than animals built to swim fast.
      The high pressure of the water forces water in the tissues. So
the skin and muscles of deep sea fishes is rather rubbery compared to
fish near the surface. So the fish move slower deep undersea. They
compensate by having long, needle like teeth.
     The bigger the mouth, the larger the suction when the fish opens
its mouth. Most fish catch prey by opening their mouths. Near the
surface, small fish are often close by. So even a small mouth is
sufficient to catch food. However, fish often escape. Deep undersea,
it is risky to miss a potential meal. So the bigger mouths, by
increasing the suction, decrease the possibility of catching a meal.
       Near the surface, there are fish that live off algae. They
don't have large mouths. However, deep undersea there is little algae.
So most of the fish deep undersea are predators. Therefore, fish with
big teeth are more likely to survive an encounter.
    The time between encounters is long in the deep sea. A fish with a
big gut can go longer without food. A fish that eat a bigger fish can
go a very long time without food. In shallow water, going a long time
without food isn't necessary. There is always food near by. The main
problem is that there is also a predator near by. So escaping large
prey without eating them works out in shallow water.
    Most deep sea fish have big eyes. The light is dimmer in a deep
sea environment. Deep undersea, there is little light. Therefore, if a
fish escapes once it is difficult to find it again. Therefore, the
fish that can hold onto its prey is more likely to survive.

Interesting, and of course I knew most of this already, but I like the
way you explained it for the rest.

.

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