It’s really quite an amazing adaptation. These fish live at extreme depths. There is essentially no light at all down there, apart from the dim glow of the bioluminescent bulbs they use for luring prey. I would imagine encounters between males and females of the species to be quite rare under the circumstances. That the male can permanently attach himself to the female is a very tidy solution to the problem.
It’s really quite an amazing adaptation. These fish live at extreme depths. There is essentially no light at all down there, apart from the dim glow of the bioluminescent bulbs they use for luring prey. I would imagine encounters between males and females of the species to be quite rare under the circumstances. That the male can permanently attach himself to the female is a very tidy solution to the problem.