The giant cusk-eel is one of the largest bony fishes in the deep abyss

The giant cusk-eel (Spectrunculus grandis) is one of the largest bony fishes in the deep abyss. Sometimes called “swimming noses,” these fish rely on their large olfactory organs to sniff out their next meal. They are not picky eaters—a hungry Spectrunculus will dine on a variety of bottom-dwelling invertebrates like crustaceans, worms, and sea stars or just as happily nibble on decomposing carcasses. In the deep sea, food can seem scarce unless you know where to look. Poop, snot, dead plankton, and larger animal carcasses sinking from the ocean’s surface provide a tasty treat for seafloor scavengers. To find a feast in the vast abyss, it helps to follow your nose. Spectrunculus is just one of the many magnificent animals that thrive on the abyssal seafloor. As society looks to the deep sea for mining rare minerals such as cobalt and nickel, understanding the importance of this spectacular species and other abyssal animals has become especially urgent. Our research is revealing how human action