Macropinna microstoma

Macropinna microstoma is a remarkably unusual fish with a transparent, fluid-filled dome on its head, revealing its barrel-shaped eyes. These eyes can rotate forward or upward, allowing the fish to hover motionless at depths of 600–800 meters while scanning for prey silhouettes. Though first described in 1939, it wasn’t photographed alive until 2004, revealing how the transparent dome is usually destroyed when the fish is brought to the surface. During feeding, Macropinna microstoma rotates its eyes forward and tips its body vertical to capture prey.

For the DEEP SEA CREATURES INTERACTIVE CATALOGUE, an intricate model was created with handmade resin eyes, vacuum-formed scales, cotton fibers for foggy areas, and a clear resin dome—recreating its signature transparent head in one successful casting.