frog
Tripod fish, or Bathypterois grallatorial, are deep-sea fish that live on the ocean floor. These fish are mostly sedentary, or remain stationary, although they can swim. The tripod fish gets its name from its appearance, as the fish has elongated pelvic fins and an elongated tail fin, giving it the appearance of literally standing on a tripod.
Grallatorial Bathyptera live mainly in the bathypelagic zone, although some have been found in the oceanic abyssopelagic zone. The bathypelagic zone, which consists of the oceanic layer between 3,281 feet (1,000 m) and 13,124 feet (4,000 m) below the surface, is very cold and dark, with the only light coming from animals with bioluminescent characteristics. The water pressure can reach up to 5,585 pounds per square inch.
The abyssopelagic zone extends between 13,124 feet (4,000 m) and 19,686 feet (6,000 m) below the surface. There is no light and the temperature of the water is almost freezing. Tripod fish are found at depths between 900 meters (2,952 feet) and up to 5,600 meters (18,372 feet) in oceans near the equator around the world.
The gralatorial bodies of bathyptera are relatively small, with the body of the largest recorded tripod fish measuring 14.5 inches (37 cm). This measurement changes when fins are taken into account. All three fins can reach 3.3 feet (1 m).
Grallatorial batyptera sit on their flippers on the ocean floor, facing the current, waiting for food to arrive. Because tripod fish have very small eyes and the water is quite dark, the fish likely rely on other senses, perhaps vibrations from their pectoral fins, which extend above their bodies, to tell when the crustaceans are feeding. they consume are nearby.
Tripod fish are hermaphrodites, which means they have both male and female sex organs. Hermaphrodite fish usually have sexual organs that mature at different times. The sexual organs of tripod fish mature at the same time.
Not much is known about the reproductive behaviors and life cycles of tripod fish. Presumably, as these fish can self-fertilize, it may be difficult to be fertilized by other Batypterois granatorial. This would indicate that there may not be much genetic variation among fish, since the fertilizing fish would produce offspring with the same genetic material as the parent.