March 2014 PMID 24591588

Marine fish may be biochemically constrained from inhabiting the deepest ocean depths.

Paul H Yancey, Mackenzie E Gerringer, Jeffrey C Drazen, Ashley A Rowden, Alan Jamieson

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Mentions

69
Peak: 8 in Aug 2024
across 6 sources since Oct 2021

Extended reach

118,446
potential audience

Total likes

2,630

Video views

56,535

Mentions per month

Oct 2021 – Jul 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News35 articles
  • X / Twitter15 posts
  • Blogs12 articles
  • Facebook3 posts
  • YouTube2 videos
  • Reddit2 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

Participants demonstrate a high interest by referencing the role of TMAO in pressure adaptation and debating the depth limits of fish, exemplified by posts citing specific depths like 8200 m and discussing whether fish can survive beyond those levels. The tone balances curiosity and skepticism, reflecting engagement with the scientific details and potential implications of the research.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the research's findings, especially the physiological constraints limiting fish at great depths.

InterestHigh interest

The topic of pressure-related biochemical limits captivates participants, indicating a high level of curiosity.

EngagementModerate engagement

Users actively reference specific studies and express skepticism or curiosity, showing moderate involvement.

ImpactModerate impact

Recognizing the depth limitations has potential implications for marine biology and understanding deep-sea ecosystems, suggesting moderate impact.

Abstract in brief

  • Marine fish are absent from the deepest parts of the ocean, likely due to pressure-related biochemical constraints, though direct evidence is limited.
  • Fish use a molecule called TMAO to stabilize proteins against pressure, and its levels increase with depth, affecting the fish's internal osmolality, which rises from shallow waters to the deep.
  • Studies on the hadal snailfish from 7000 m depth show TMAO levels and osmolality consistent with predictions that beyond about 8200 m, biochemical constraints may prevent fish from surviving, indicating a physiological limit to their depth range.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Greg Egan
@gregeganSF · X

TIL about TMAO, a molecule that protects proteins in fish from the distorting effects of pressure: https://t.co/iCsjVOe3xz Its maximum concentration before reverse osmosis would set in seems to impose a depth limit on fish: https://t.co/X5GfaUFBah H/T: https://t.co/QBfFqiaAiN

Aug 18, 2024 · 52 likes · 10 shares · 25,446 followers View post →
Tyler Greenfield
@TylerGreenfieId · X

Even the record of A. galatheae has been doubted since it was caught with an open net. Fishes may be limited to depths less than 8,200 m based on physiological constraints. The deepest in-situ observation of a fish is 8,145 m. https://t.co/tYGp26MoF9 https://t.co/Iihb9MJoVF

Sep 14, 2022 · 40 likes · 2 shares · 6,373 followers View post →
Chris Colose
@CColose · X

@AutumnMandrake Apparently it’s close to the upper limit on pressure that we’d expect to find fish https://t.co/tBHnQNRAfR

Apr 8, 2023 · 7,482 followers View post →
DOSI
@DeepStewardship · X

Much of the information here relies on the 2014 paper by Yancey et al., 'Marine fish may be biochemically constrained from inhabiting the deepest ocean depths': https://t.co/owC7IQzkBU

May 10, 2023 · 7,089 followers View post →
Jun
@ni075 · X

RT @TylerGreenfieId: Even the record of A. galatheae has been doubted since it was caught with an open net. Fishes may be limited to depths…

Sep 14, 2022 · 2 shares · 6,000 followers View post →
norvid_studies
@norvid_studies · X

RT @gregeganSF: TIL about TMAO, a molecule that protects proteins in fish from the distorting effects of pressure: https://t.co/iCsjVOe3xz…

Aug 18, 2024 · 10 shares · 4,908 followers View post →

All mentions

Deep Ocean Fish Evolution and Survival Limits

This video explores how deep-sea fish began to inhabit the ocean's depths and survive in extreme environments, focusing on biochemical constraints like pressure effects and adaptation mechanisms such as TMAO levels.

Zoomundo · Jul 22, 2025 54,575 views
Andrius K
@And_Krasauskas · X

RT @gregeganSF: TIL about TMAO, a molecule that protects proteins in fish from the distorting effects of pressure: https://t.co/iCsjVOe3xz…

Jan 30, 2025 · 10 shares · 38 followers View post →
BLACKHOLEAIR LLC.
@BLACKHOLEAIR · X

RT @gregeganSF: TIL about TMAO, a molecule that protects proteins in fish from the distorting effects of pressure: https://t.co/iCsjVOe3xz…

Aug 19, 2024 · 10 shares · 336 followers View post →
TREASURE MONEY
@Sekenneri · X

RT @gregeganSF: TIL about TMAO, a molecule that protects proteins in fish from the distorting effects of pressure: https://t.co/iCsjVOe3xz…

Aug 18, 2024 · 10 shares · 201 followers View post →
Juanjo Mora
@VacaSagradaPost · X

RT @gregeganSF: TIL about TMAO, a molecule that protects proteins in fish from the distorting effects of pressure: https://t.co/iCsjVOe3xz…

Aug 18, 2024 · 10 shares · 220 followers View post →
norvid_studies
@norvid_studies · X

RT @gregeganSF: TIL about TMAO, a molecule that protects proteins in fish from the distorting effects of pressure: https://t.co/iCsjVOe3xz…

Aug 18, 2024 · 10 shares · 4,908 followers View post →
//TODO: fix later
@enjoyingthewind · X

RT @gregeganSF: TIL about TMAO, a molecule that protects proteins in fish from the distorting effects of pressure: https://t.co/iCsjVOe3xz…

Aug 18, 2024 · 10 shares · 722 followers View post →
仕方がない
@IIISarenkaPS64 · X

RT @gregeganSF: TIL about TMAO, a molecule that protects proteins in fish from the distorting effects of pressure: https://t.co/iCsjVOe3xz…

Aug 18, 2024 · 10 shares · 822 followers View post →
Daenerys Tataryen
@DTataryen · X

RT @gregeganSF: TIL about TMAO, a molecule that protects proteins in fish from the distorting effects of pressure: https://t.co/iCsjVOe3xz…

Aug 18, 2024 · 10 shares · 1,380 followers View post →
Greg Egan
@gregeganSF · X

TIL about TMAO, a molecule that protects proteins in fish from the distorting effects of pressure: https://t.co/iCsjVOe3xz Its maximum concentration before reverse osmosis would set in seems to impose a depth limit on fish: https://t.co/X5GfaUFBah H/T: https://t.co/QBfFqiaAiN

Aug 18, 2024 · 52 likes · 10 shares · 25,446 followers View post →
DOSI
@DeepStewardship · X

Much of the information here relies on the 2014 paper by Yancey et al., 'Marine fish may be biochemically constrained from inhabiting the deepest ocean depths': https://t.co/owC7IQzkBU

May 10, 2023 · 7,089 followers View post →
Chris Colose
@CColose · X

@AutumnMandrake Apparently it’s close to the upper limit on pressure that we’d expect to find fish https://t.co/tBHnQNRAfR

Apr 8, 2023 · 7,482 followers View post →
引佐龍成
@inasa_r · X

@Noemon_ 私のソース元はこちらです https://t.co/beDaoJPOVj

Apr 4, 2023 · 561 followers View post →
DerpyNoodleDude
@DumbScaleH0mE_ · X

RT @TylerGreenfieId: Even the record of A. galatheae has been doubted since it was caught with an open net. Fishes may be limited to depths…

Sep 14, 2022 · 2 shares · 142 followers View post →
Jun
@ni075 · X

RT @TylerGreenfieId: Even the record of A. galatheae has been doubted since it was caught with an open net. Fishes may be limited to depths…

Sep 14, 2022 · 2 shares · 6,000 followers View post →
Tyler Greenfield
@TylerGreenfieId · X

Even the record of A. galatheae has been doubted since it was caught with an open net. Fishes may be limited to depths less than 8,200 m based on physiological constraints. The deepest in-situ observation of a fish is 8,145 m. https://t.co/tYGp26MoF9 https://t.co/Iihb9MJoVF

Sep 14, 2022 · 40 likes · 2 shares · 6,373 followers View post →