barreleye

fish

Also known as: Macropinna microstoma, barrel-eye fish

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Last updated

June 22, 2026

Quick Summary

The barreleye, also known as spookfish, is a small marine fish belonging to the family Opisthoproctidae. These fish are found in oceans worldwide, typically at depths between 100 and 900 meters.1

A defining characteristic of the barreleye is its unusual eyes. They are large, tubular, and pointed directly upward, allowing the fish to scan for prey silhouetted against the faint light filtering down from the surface. The barreleye (Macropinna microstoma) is a species found along the North American coast and is less than 10 cm (4 inches) long.12

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spookfish
The barreleye (Macropinna microstoma), a spookfish of the Pacific, occurs along the North American coast. It is less than 10 cm (4 inches) in length and brownish in colour.
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The barreleye (Macropinna microstoma), a spookfish of the Pacific, occurs along the North American coast. It is less than 10 cm (4 inches) in length and brownish in colour.
Read More