Fish
Slickhead
Alepocephalidae · also called slickheads
Feeding on low-energy jellyfish that most other fish pass over, a slickhead has claimed a food source with little competition across the deep ocean, its smooth, scaleless head giving the whole family its distinctive name.
Overview
The slickhead, family Alepocephalidae, is a diverse group of deep-sea fish native to ocean habitat across tropical, temperate, and polar waters worldwide. Its smooth, scaleless head, unusual reliance on gelatinous prey, and considerable species diversity make it one of the more ecologically distinctive fish families found anywhere in the deep ocean.
Thriving on food other fish ignore
By specialising in jellyfish and other gelatinous prey that most fish find too low in energy to bother with, the slickhead has carved out a food source with remarkably little competition, a quiet but effective strategy for surviving in the resource-scarce deep sea.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread across suitable deep ocean habitat worldwide.
Slickhead: common questions
Why is it called the slickhead?
This family has a smooth, scaleless head, a feature distinctive enough to give the group its common name and set it apart from most other deep-sea fish.
Why do slickheads eat jellyfish when most fish avoid them?
Many species within this family feed heavily on jellyfish and other gelatinous zooplankton, a low-energy food source that most other fish tend to avoid, allowing slickheads to exploit an abundant resource with little competition.
Do slickheads produce their own light?
Certain species within this family have specialised photophores capable of producing light, an adaptation used in the darker portions of their depth range to help with camouflage or communication.
How many species of slickhead are there?
This family includes well over a hundred recognised species, found across a wide range of deep ocean habitats worldwide, making it one of the more diverse deep-sea fish families.