Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Clear Head
It may seem to be something out of a science fiction movie, but the Pacific barreleye fish, and its transparent head, is 100% real.
It's transparent dome allows the barreleye to see a broader range of its surroundings. The dome, bringing in even more light, compensates for the barreleye's lack of cone cells, which help an animal see in well lit areas. Aside from the dome, the barreleye also has an exceptionally high level of rod cells, which help animals see in poorly lit areas. The dome also protects protects the fish's eyes from stinging cells of siphonophores, whose food it steals.
Here's the first ever video of a living barreleye.
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