The Barreleye - Spook Fish

Yes, this photo is real; this fish has a transparent head. The Pacific barreleye, AKA spook fish, is one of fourteen species of barreleye fish that can be found in tropical and subtropical waters at depths of 1,300 to 8,500 feet.

Those green orbs you see are actually the fish’s eyes. They protrude outside the skull but are encased inside a transparent dome. Though they can be aimed forward, the eyes are usually pointed up searching for the silhouette of prey (usually small zooplankton) in near total darkness.

Photo credits: Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute