This brightly colored anglerfish is the topic of a newly published study co-authored by Moss Landing Marine Laboratories Professor Emeritus Gregor M. Cailliet.

Cailliet worked with colleagues from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

“While scientists have observed other species of anglerfish in the wild before, this particular species—Chaunacops coloratus—wasn’t documented alive until 2002,” explains the National Geographic Daily News website. “The 2002 sighting was of a single fish found near a seamount, or extinct volcano, about 80 miles southwest of Monterey.

“In 2010, an expedition to the nearby Taney Seamounts found six more—enough to support a proper investigation of the species…which can walk and changes color throughout its life,” National Geographic continues. You can learn more about Chaunacops coloratus in the journal Deep-Sea Research Part I.

You can learn more about experts including Cailliet on the CSU Fresca website, where he writes “for more than four decades, since my graduate work at UCSB in the 1960s, I have studied the ecology of marine fishes. I have been especially interested in deep-sea fishes and their ecology…

“For my deep-sea studies, I have mainly utilized surface ships for trawling and trapping activities, but more recently have been more involved with in situ camera sled, remotely operated vehicle, and submersible studies.”

Moss Landing Marine Laboratories is home to the master’s of marine science program for seven CSU campuses, including SJSU, which serves as administrator.