Deep-sea fish captured on camera

The deepest living fish ever spotted in the southern hemisphere have been caught on camera.

The bizarre-looking pink creatures were photographed at a depth of 7,560m (24,800ft), swimming in the Kermadec Trench off the coast of New Zealand.

An international team has been studying this area using a submersible, built to withstand immense pressures.

Last year, the same team recorded another fish at 7,700m (25,300ft) - the deepest ever filmed.

These were found in the Japan Trench, which is in the Pacific, north of the equator.

Both expeditions form part of the Hadeep project, which aims to expand our knowledge of life in the oceanic trenches, the deepest parts of the ocean floor.

Quite a catch

The deep-sea fish seen near New Zealand look remarkably similar to last year's find: they are pale pink in colour, with bulbous bodies and long tails. But they are in fact a different species. m

... The fish were photographed using a camera-laden, deep-sea submersible, which was connected to a ship and controlled from its surface. The probe was loaded with rotting fish, designed to lure deep-sea creatures, allowing them to be caught on camera and studied.

via BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | Deep-sea fish captured on camera.

Video here.