Anglerfish becomes sea's most relatable drama queen

A rare deep-sea creature has unexpectedly captured the hearts of social media users, transforming from a nightmarish vision of the ocean depths into an unlikely symbol of resilience and longing.

The black seadevil anglerfish, typically lurking between 200 and 2,000 meters below the ocean’s surface, recently made a dramatic and unusual appearance near the water’s surface off the coast of Tenerife in the Canary Islands. The sighting, a rare and thrilling event for researchers, ended in the fish’s death—but its story has taken on a life of its own online.

Social media users have embraced the seadevil’s mysterious journey, weaving a poignant narrative around its final moments. What initially inspired fear—its sharp teeth, bioluminescent lure, and lidless eyes—has now stirred an outpouring of unexpected emotion. Many have viewed the fish’s ascent as a metaphor, likening it to a lonely quest for something beyond its dark abyss.

One such admirer, Hannah Backman, 29, from Minneapolis, initially found the fish unsettling but was soon moved by the poetic tragedy of its journey. “This poor fish is just spending her literal last seconds trying to do something beautiful,” she reflected.

The encounter was documented by a team of researchers who observed the fish for hours before it succumbed to its injuries. A photographer with the group described the experience as “a dream come true,” highlighting how rare it is to witness such a deep-sea creature so close to the surface. The reason for its unexpected appearance remains uncertain, though scientists speculate it may have been due to illness or an unusual ocean current.

Despite its passing, the seadevil’s story has resonated widely. Fans have paid tribute through heartfelt social media posts, artwork, and even tattoos. Some have created emotional video montages set to melancholic music, while others have called for its journey to be immortalized in an animated film.

#anglerfish pic.twitter.com/fFzkXNCCMc

— Lilith (@Lilithlowcaps) February 18, 2025

me crying over every post i come across about this anglerfish (for the last two days) pic.twitter.com/Z3h4lhiWUd

— henna  (@hennasam) February 15, 2025

just keep swimming.. #anglerfish #pixelart pic.twitter.com/1pklroJhPF

— pixelianska (@pixelianska) February 17, 2025

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Solveig Rohde Hestholm (@rohdart)

I want a tattoo of that goddamn anglerfish she's everything to me

— Rory !!  (@sunnyscreaming_) February 15, 2025

It’s really upsetting that people keep calling the anglerfish ugly. She was just a girl who wanted to see the sun. pic.twitter.com/pDDEQhtSLQ

— madame blueberry  (@Maddie_Jones515) February 11, 2025

Madison Sharp, 25, a behavioral therapist in Dallas, noticed the surge of sentiment for the fish in her social media feeds. “Instead of just seeing a fish reach the surface, they see hope, and meaning, and symbolism,” she observed. Inspired by the emotion surrounding the story, she created an illustration of the seadevil with teary eyes and the word “finally” written above the waterline.

For Backman, the story struck a personal chord. “She was just this poor, little, very-sharp-toothed fishy,” she said, acknowledging that she was projecting emotions onto a creature whose motivations remain unknowable.

Nonetheless, the haunting image of a lone, bioluminescent traveler making its way toward the light continues to linger in the minds of many.