This bizarre, crochet-like fish walks across the seafloor to save energy while hunting.

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Deep beneath the waves off the coast of Chile, researchers recently discovered a strange, bright red creature that resembles a piece of yarn-work. Known as a sea toad, this fish uses modified fins to walk along the seafloor, a strategy that is far more energy-efficient than swimming in the deep.

The sea toad belongs to the family Chaunacidae, a group of deep-sea anglerfishes first classified as a distinct family in 1863. These fish are characterized by their globose bodies, short tails, and skin covered in small, spiny scales that give them a fuzzy, crocheted appearance. Their name, derived from the genus Chaunax, translates to 'one who gapes,' an allusion to their large, upward-turned mouths. While they are mostly sedentary, they possess conspicuous lateral lines that help them detect prey and avoid predators in the dark, high-pressure environments of the continental slopes.

Recent expeditions off Chile have highlighted how little we know about these creatures. Scientists mapped several previously unknown seamounts, which function as isolated oases in the marine desert. Because these underwater mountains are geographically distinct, the species inhabiting them are often unique to that specific location. Experts like Javier Sellanes emphasize that while finding over a hundred potentially new species in a single expedition is significant, it represents only a fraction of the life hidden in these vast, unexplored ecosystems. The sea toad’s walking behavior is thought to be an adaptation for both hunting and metabolic efficiency, allowing it to navigate the rugged terrain of these volcanic slopes.

Despite their unique biology, sea toads and their habitats remain largely unprotected. With over 100,000 seamounts estimated to exist globally, less than 0.1 percent have been explored. These environments are vulnerable to human activities like bottom trawling and mining, which threaten the specialized fauna that live nowhere else. Researchers argue that the limited knowledge we currently possess about these ecosystems is already sufficient to justify their protection, but the vast amount of undiscovered biodiversity makes the case for conservation even more urgent.

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