Rare find along Oregon beach

A deep-sea angler fish, called a Pacific football fish (Himantoliphus sagamius) has been found by local beachcombers just south of Cannon Beach.

Living in complete darkness, at 2,000 -3,300 feet, these fish are rarely seen, according to the Seaside Aquarium.

“In fact, only 31 specimens have been recorded around the world,” the Aquarium operators state in a Facebook post. “While a handful of football fish have been recorded in New Zealand, Japan, Russia, Hawaii, Ecuador, Chile, and California this is the first one reported on the Oregon Coast to our knowledge.”

Little is known about the football fish history but what is known is unusually fascinating, the Aquarium officals write.

“Like other angler fish, the outback fist use light that shines from a phosphorescent bulb on their forehead to attract prey,” the Facebook post reads. “Food at the depths that these guys peruse can be very sparse, so football fish are not picky eaters. They eat anything that can fit into their mouths.”

Only females actively hunt as the males are actually more like parasites. Males being 10 times smaller than females, find a female to fuse themselves to, according to the Aquarium.

“They lose their eyes and internal organs, getting all their nutrients from their female partners. In return, they provide females with a steady source of sperm,” the Facebook post states. “How the males find the females in the pitch dark is still unknown.”

A few weeks ago, amateur photographer Michael Sanchez captured a photo of a blue rock thrush on a rocky area at Cannon Beach. Officials said it is likely the first ever seen in the United States.