Hula Skirt Siphonophore

Black-devil anglerfish

Melanoncetus johnsoni

The Black-devil anglerfish is a skilled predator that lurks in the darkness. It uses a bioluminescent organ, a top its head, to lure unsuspecting prey into its jaws. Even though these fish are terrifying to look at, they are about the size of a grape fruit. To save energy, they remain immobile in the water, yet they can detect even the slightest vibrations. Since finding a mate is hard at this depth, male fish will attach themselves to a female and slowly dissolve into her tissue; so she is able to use the sperm the male provides at any time. In addition, this is the fish that tried to eat Marlin and Dory in “Finding Nemo.”

Photo credit: https://underthevastblueseas.tumblr.com/post/40882487364/this-female-black-devil-anglerfish-with-her-flabby

https://www.pinterest.fr/pin/574631233709001328/

Sea Angel

Cliopsis krohni

The Sea Angel is a tiny snail that is only 4 cm in length and found at depths as deep as 1500 m. Even though it is small, it is a viscous predator. It hunts other midwater snails using a structure called a radula. Unlike other snails, the Sea Angel’s mouth is located on top of its head. It also uses swimming “wings” to propel through the water. 

Photo Source: http://seaslugsofhawaii.com/species/Cliopsis-krohni-a.html

An amazing glowing ctenophore!

Bloody-belly comb jelly

Lampocteis cruentiventer

The Bloody-belly is a 16 cm ctenophore that is found at depths 700 m to 1200m. It is crimson red in color and appears black in the deep ocean. However, the jelly has the ability to emit a different color. Furthermore, it uses highly iridescent ctenes to propel through the water. 

Photo credit:  https://laughingsquid.com/bloody-belly-comb-jelly/

https://www.reddit.com/r/deepseacreatures/comments/2j1717/bloodbelly_comb_jelly_lampocteis_cruentiventer/

Deep Sea Arrow Worm

Eukrohnia hamata

Arrow worms are small, predatory marine worms that consume copepods, ostracods, and larvae. They resembles a clear, ink pen whizzing through the dark sea. Furthermore, they are found primarily in the Artic Ocean between 700m to 1200m. The picture on the bottom is its head. They have 8 hooks, which are used to grab prey and 25 posterior teeth. Even though the arrow worms are terrifying up close, they are only 4.5 cm in size.

Photo credit:   http://www.arcodiv.org/watercolumn/chaetognaths/Eukrohnia_hamata.html

Physonect Siphonophore

Nanomia cara

The Physonect siphonophore has tiny, bubble shaped sacs that are filled with gas. The sacs are called pneumatophores and help this creature move through the deep ocean. It also has venomous tentacles that stun prey and over eighty stomachs. There are numerous amounts of these strange creatures along the east coast, and they have cause some fisheries to collapse. Furthermore, they can be found at depth between 400m to 1000m.  

Photo credit: http://www.seawater.no/fauna/cnidaria/cara.html

https://www.mindenpictures.com/stock-photo-siphonophore-hydrozoan-cnidarian-nanomia-cara-atlantic-nectophores-naturephotography-image90194961.html

Cockatoo Squid

Galiteuthis phyllura

The Cockatoo squid is a highly-specialized oddity of the deep ocean and found at depths between 300 to 1400 m. It is completely transparent, except for its eyes. It also has bioluminescent photophores that are directed downward: this makes it difficult for deep sea predators to see the Cockatoo Squid. It was named after the Cockatoo because it holds its tentacles above its head, resembling the bird. The Cockatoo squid can also get fairly large with adults reaching lengths of 2.7 meters (over 6 ft.) 

Photocredit: https://www.americanscientist.org/article/at-home-in-the-dark

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/28710516347382519/

Giant Isopod

Bathynomus kensleyi

The Giant Isopod is an unsettling deep sea creature that crawls along the ocean floor scavenging for animal remains and detritus. These invertebrates are part of phenomenon known as abyssal gigantism, which is the tendency for  deep-sea dwelling invertebrates to be larger than their shallower-water counter parts. The Giant Isopod is found between 310m to 2140m in the ocean. 

Photo credit

https://seatrench.tumblr.com/post/615873390014791680/giant-isopod-bathynomus-sp-source

https://alchetron.com/Giant-isopod

Atolla Jelly

Atolla wyvillei

The Atolla Jelly is a fiery, red jellyfish that has an extraordinary display of bioluminescence. When the jelly is attacked, it uses bioluminescence to produce thousands of vibrant, blue flashes; the blue flashes act as an alarm, which draws in bigger predators and warns prey. The jelly can be found at depths between 600 m to 1500m, and it also has a long  hypertrophied tentacle that aids in reproduction. 

Photo credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atolla_jellyfish

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atolla_jellyfish

Pigbutt worm

Chaetopterus pugaporcinus

The Pigbutt worm or the flying buttocks of the sea is spotted floating between 965 m to 1300 m in the deep ocean. It is actually a polychaete (polly-keet) worm species that burrows in the ground as an adult, and floats around the ocean as a baby. The worm feeds itself : by creating a balloon of mucus; collecting particles on the mucus; and then consuming the particles. It is the rarest and thickest worm in the deep ocean, for only ten have been spotted.  

Photocredit: https://roaring.earth/pigbutt-worm/

Vampire Squid

Vampyroteuthis infernalis

Even though the Vampire Squid is named after a notorious monster, this gentle creature does not live up to its name. It is only a foot long and occupies depths between 650m to 1500m in the deep ocean. Unlike other squids, it has reduced musculature and collects particles in the water column. However, it is capable of huge bursts of speeds. It uses bioluminescence to confuse both predators. 

Photo credit: https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/invertebrates/vampire-squid-hell