Deep-sea marvels: How anglerfish defy evolutionary expectations

A Rice University study sheds light on the extraordinary evolution of anglerfish, a group of deep-sea dwellers whose bizarre adaptations have captivated scientists and the public alike. The research, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, uncovers how these enigmatic creatures defied the odds to diversify in the harsh, resource-poor environment of the bathypelagic zone—part of the open ocean that extends from 3,300 to 13,000 feet below the ocean's surface.