Night-sky Fish

 Deep down, in the cold dark abyss of the Ægiric Ocean, lives a creature that looks like it should have no place in this mortal universe. 

Skin black as coal, sunken eyes through which no light shines. 
Massive translucent teeth and a face full of barbels that wriggle in every direction.

Yet at the tips of these fleshy whiskers are small bulbs of light.

The skin of this hideous creature soaks up all the light so all that can be seen are ten tiny lights, flickering like stars in the dark of night.

The identity of this monstrosity? 

It is actually just a night-sky fish (Vardichthys devorator), an abyssopelagic nienktvis barely 7 centimeters in length. 

Art by BobsicleG

This animal behaves much like an anglerfish from Earth. It hangs in the water column, waiting for prey to swim by and get attracted by its bioluminescent lures.

Its terrifying teeth serve not to impale or slash, but rather just to trap and make sure prey does not escape from its maw.

As with many other deep sea fish, it has a very flexible stomach that can expand to a great size to encompass a meal.

Not much else is known, for this creature was not observed in its natural habitat. Rather it was pulled to the surface when it became ensnared on a deep line.

Good for us so we can study it, less for it because it died from decompression sickness.