The fish, known for its eerie, bioluminescent lure used to attract prey, has now become a symbol of empathy, vulnerability and strange beauty of the deep sea. Why, so? The emotional appeal of the ...

Some of the fish’s fans have turned the watery odyssey — which ended in death — into a poignant version of the hero’s journey. “My first reaction was, ‘Oh my god, this fish is ...

Others have felt defensive over the fish being labelled ‘ugly’: ‘It’s really upsetting that people keep calling the anglerfish ugly. She was just a girl who wanted to see the sun.’ ...