Image courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Javelin spookfish, Bathylychnops exilis


What is a spookfish?


"Barreleyes, also known as spookfish (a name also applied to several species of chimaera), are small deep-sea argentiniform fish comprising the family Opisthoproctidae found in tropical-to-temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans."

That is to say, they're weird little deep-sea fish with huge, protruding eyes that take up most of their head.

Very little light reaches down into their deep-sea home, so those huge eyes help them catch what little light is available to take a look at their surroundings. 
It also makes them look awfully spooky!

Those huge eyes of theirs are nearly unique - unlike most animals, whose eyes use a lens, spookfish's eyes essentially have mirrors!

Check out this National Geographic article to learn more