Lancetfish are ambush predators who use their sleek, dark bodies to suddenly attack prey. Sometimes, their targets are members of their own species. Living deep beneath the ocean, these seldom-seen animals use razor-sharp teeth to grasp on to the targets, usually crabs.
Beach goers at Jennette's Pier on Nags Head Beach in North Carolina were surprised to find one of the deep-sea creatures washed up on the sand. These creatures are rarely seen, except when they are accidentally caught by fishermen, trolling for tuna.
Lancetfish mouths and eyes are over-sized, when compared to their bodies. Large eyes allow better vision in dark water, and the mouths hold rows of teeth. When fully grown, the fish can reach lengths up to six-and-a-half feet long.
"The lancetfish was found and released alive. Although not pictured, the fish had a large dorsal fin much like a billfish according to Leif Rasmussen," officials from Jennette's Pier wrote on their Web page.
The fish was briefly captured by pier attendant Leif Rasmussen, who took several photos before releasing the animal back into the water.
The odd-looking cannibalistic species is related to swordfish and yellowfin tuna. It is a member of the Alepisauridae family, the Greek name for "scaleless lizard."
Strangely, adolescent lancetfish can often exist between genders, but there is no evidence such properties exist in adults.
Lancetfish are not the only cannibalistic species in the sea. Lobsters have been seen eating each other in the ocean.
Biologists believe that rising global temperatures are responsible for rising birth rates among the creatures. Following this idea, rising populations are driving the crustaceans to feed on young.
When sand tiger sharks are conceived, several fetuses form. As they develop, the fetuses battle each other in the womb. The stronger creatures eat the weaker ones until only a handful remains before birth.
Octopuses will not only eat other members of their species, but when they are under great stress, they will sometimes start consuming parts of their own bodies.
Such cannibalistic behaviors are not even restricted to wild bodies of water. Many species of domestic fish, kept in aquariums, will eat members of their own species. Usually, this is due to a lack of food or overcrowding, but some species of house fish are natural cannibals.
Cannibalism can play significant roles in courtship and care of offspring.
"I think that in many situations, cannibalism is a very natural and reasonable thing to do. If food is limited and members of your species are the only thing around, why starve?" Martha Crump, an expert on cannibalism among toads, asked reporters.
