A deep-water fang-tooth fish, dubbed Dracula by its finders, is to become the basis for a collection of rare fish in the Kerry aquarium, Dingle Ocean World.
The black, fang-tooth fish was caught 200 miles off the coast by Mr Michael Flannery's trawler and taken from levels of 1,200 metres deep. The fish normally lives off the Falklands/Malvinas Islands in 5,000 metres of sea.
Mr Kevin Flannery, an expert on exotic fish and a marine officer, said it was the first time he had seen a fang-tooth, although he had heard of a specimen landed from a Russian research vessel in Killybegs a year ago.
"People want to see these rare species," said Mr Flannery. "A display will help the public's understanding of the deep."
The fang-tooth eats plankton so it can see in the dark. A small fish, it has fangs on the tongue as well as on the mouth to secure its prey.