Hatchetfish

Hatchetfish
Monsters of the Deep
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Next	Giant Octopus
Card	1
Creature Features
Genus/Species	Argyropelecus/various
Size	Length up to 4 in.
Habitat	Cold seas and oceans at depths up to 3,200 feet
Prey	Animal plankton, including tiny crustaceans and small fish
Did You Know?
One of the hatchetfish's main enemies is the gruesome-looking viperfish.

This fish looks like an outer space alien, complete with a glow-in-the-dark body. But the only threat the 4-inch hatchetfish presents is to very small prey. It stays constantly on the move, from the depths of the ocean to just below the surface. The glowing cells in its body help the creature blend in to the surrounding water, allowing it to either sneak up on prey or hide from larger attackers.

Googly Eyes: Huge, bulbous eyes collect all available light so the hatchetfish can see in the dark. The eyes point upward, staying fixed on prey in the waters above.

Mouth Off: The mouth is also tilted upward, and opens wide to scoop up meals as the hatchetfish finds prey.

In the Zone

The hatchetfish is always looking up for food.

In order to survive in the "twilight zone" of the seas, where the amount of light varies according to the depth, the hatchetfish is always adjusting the light in its body. It tries to match the light in the surrounding water as it continuously follows it prey from very deep waters toward the surface every night. When swarms of tiny creatures called zooplankton swim up to feed on floating debris, the hatchetfish follows, brightening its lights as it nears the surface. When the zooplankton retreat to deeper, dark waters, the hatchetfish is still on their tail, dimming its lights as it sinks into the ocean's depths.

Invisible Fish: Cells on the fish's body called photophores convert energy into a natural glow. This "light show" blends in with light from above, so predators farther down don't notice the hatchetfish when they look up for a meal.

Blade Runner: This fish's deep, flat body and sharp-edged belly give it the shape of the blade of a hatchet. That's why it's called a hatchetfish.

Super Big Gulp

1. Seeing prey in the waters above, the hatchetfish turns upward. At the same time, its photophores start glowing to mask itself from predators.
2. A big meal is rare, so the fish goes after a deep-sea shrimp. Coming up from the darkness below, the hatchetfish is hidden from its victim.
3. With a big swoop, the hatchetfish traps the shrimp in its jaws, and gulps it down. The fish's stomach is expandable, like a snake's, to cope with the large serving.

Trading Card

Hatchetfish
Though it lives deep in the Earth's oceans, this fish looks like it came from another planet. Eerie light shining from its body helps confuse undersea attackers.
Say What?	The hatchet fish's underwater light-show works much like a firefly's.
Stats
Life	70
Attack	3
Defense	4