07 Aug A Dentist’s Nightmare Part II
Photo Credit: Photograph by Theodore Pietsch – National Geographic
Last year we did a post about a dentist’s worst nightmare: the Deep-Sea Anglerfish, or “Black Sea Devil”. The first ever footage of this creature was captured shortly before that blog was posted. With a name like “Sea Devil” it’s pretty obvious why this deep sea creature would be the subject of anyone’s nightmare. The massive mouth and razor sharp fang-like teeth angled inward to increase it’s deadly grasp on it’s unsuspecting prey would make even the most battle-tested Prescott dentist falter. But like a terrible tagline to a cheesy horror movie sequel: the nightmare is far from over.
A snaggletoothed cousin to this deep sea demon has been recently discovered and classified. The name of this new, yet very old, fish is Lasiognathus dinema. The specimen was found due to rather unfortunate circumstances – researchers were surveying a part of the Gulf of Mexico devastated by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Three female deceased specimens were found, one of which measured about 5 inches long. The tendons in the mouth of the fish leads researchers to believe that the mouth closes and captures it’s prey similar to an upside-down Venus flytrap. Though no one has ever seen the animal alive, it appears to hunt using a lure on it’s head like it’s “Black Sea Devil” cousin.
Our staff may not be able to treat any of the “Sea Devil” clan but your Prescott dentist can certainly help keep your teeth from resembling the mouth one of those creatures! Contact Prescott Dentistry today to schedule your appointment, just so long as you’re not going to go all “Venus flytrap” on our hands!