These awe-insipring deep sea creatures have fascinated scientists and nature-lovers alike – and with a reeason.
A multitude of enchanting and enigmatic creatures reside in the deep sea, the largest ecosystem on Earth. Through exploration with remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) has unveiled an exhilarating array of these unfamiliar organisms during their three decades of operation. Some of them, due to their peculiar forms, magnificent hues, or extraordinary behaviors, have captivated people’s interest and also remain long-standing staff favorites.
The creatures presented here are the Lampocteis cruentiventer, the bloody-belly comb jelly; Scotoplanes sp., the sea pig, Vampyroteuthis infernalis, the vampire squid; Chrondrocladia lyra, the harp sponge; Anoplogaster cornuta, the fangtooth; and Macropinna microstoma, the barreleye fish.
In another video, five of MBARI’s finest deep-sea biologists—Shannon Johnson, Kakani Katija, George Matsumoto, Bruce Robison, and Susan von Thun—talk about their own personal favorites, thereby coming up with a list of the top 10 deep-sea animals.
Other amazing MBARI discoveries we have reported on include a crab eating frozen gas, a mysterious giant deep-sea phantom jelly, and the first-ever footage of an anglerfish, among others.
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