A black seadevil has been captured on video for the first time. Monterey Bay researchers recently captured the fish, also known as Melanocetus, an anglerfish species.

The rare fish lives deep in the ocean and is named for its ugly appearance and the fact that its large mouth (females only) allows the deep sea dweller to consume fish larger than itself. To capture its prey, the fish maneuvers the bright orb hanging from its own “fishing rod” on its forehead.

In contrast, males are quite small and have a shorter lifespan. Instead of hunting for food as the females primarily do, the male fish have a sole purpose in life: find a mate. When seeking a mate, the male bites the female’s flesh, never letting go once making the bite. The result is a fusion of tissues and blood systems with both genders. Once the male latches on, the female provides him with food and oxygen along with essential hormones for survival.

Ted Pietsch, professor at the University of Washington and expert on the deep-sea anglerfish, said in a statement, “If they don’t find a female, they drown. They’re not even properly equipped to eat.”

Unlike the females, males have generally simplistic bodies without the fangs of the females and a proper gut. Both the male and female versions are rarely seen and remain a mystery to researchers aside from knowledge about their life spans and reproductive biology.

According to the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s official website, at the tip of the female’s modified fin ray is a small organ (esca) that contains millions of light-producing bacteria.