Bony-eared assfish

Deep, deep down in the ocean, where sunlight can't reach, lives a funny-looking fish called the bony-eared assfish. It's not very big, only about as long as a grown-up's arm. This fish has a scientific name, Acanthonus armatus, which sounds fancy! It likes to hang out in warm and tropical waters, far, far away from the shore.

Here's a super surprising fact: some scientists think the bony-eared assfish might have the smallest brain compared to its body size of any animal with a backbone! It's like having a tiny pea for a brain inside a bigger fish body. It's so strange that other fish, like lampreys and sunfish, are also contenders for this title!

Because the bony-eared assfish lives way down where the water pressure is HUGE, it has to be super squishy and soft. It doesn't have strong bones or muscles like fish closer to the surface. Think of it like a balloon filled with water – it can handle the pressure! This helps it survive in its tough home.

We don't know everything about this mysterious fish. It lives so deep that it's hard for scientists to study them. They are found in places like off the coast of Canada, but mostly in the deep, dark, tropical oceans. It's a reminder of how many amazing creatures are still waiting to be discovered in our oceans!