dependents

The male angler fish connects itself to the female angler fish, when it is mature enough, and then is mated for life. It completely depends on the female for nourishment, protection, and anything else it needs. The way it gets its nourishment is by connecting itself to the females blood-stream. From then on it is just a source of sperm. When the male grips the female's skin with its teeth, the male begins to degenerate. His eyes grow smaller and he eventually loses them. Once the female gives birth, the male angler fish bites the female and remains attached to her with that grip for the rest of its life.