Short Wave Anglerfish Ancestors Once Roamed The Seafloor
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Jun 4, 2025 Dive into the mesmerizing world of anglerfish, exploring their astonishing adaptations and diverse shapes. Discover how scientists constructed a family tree revealing their seafloor-dwelling ancestors. Uncover the challenges of researching rare specimens and the groundbreaking techniques used in the pursuit of genetic insights. As they celebrate marine biodiversity, the podcast also reflects on the sobering realities of species extinction, weaving together joy and concern in the fascinating realm of deep-sea life.
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Rose's Childhood Fear of Anglerfish
- Rose Fauché was so frightened by the anglerfish scene in Finding Nemo as a child she cried and had to leave the theater.
- This early experience contrasted with her later scientific fascination with these fish.
Anglerfish Diversity From Seafloor Ancestors
- Anglerfish species show remarkable diversity in shape despite living in a cold, dark, and food-limited deep sea zone.
- This diversity evolved after anglerfish ancestors transitioned from crawling the seafloor to swimming in the water column.
Mapping Anglerfish Skulls by Hand
- Rose Fauché meticulously placed 111 landmark points on 3D CT scans of anglerfish skulls by hand to document their morphological diversity.
- This detailed work enabled analysis of evolutionary differences in anglerfish skull shapes.