Mid-water Arctic Hydrozoan

Basket Star

Gorgonocephalus caputmedusae

The Basket Star is a strange yet elegant creature that lives in the deep ocean. It resembles a flesh white ball with gnarled and swirling branches. It thrives in locations with strong currents. Its numerous arms move slowly and wrap around prey. They are one of my favorite animals from the Echinodermata phylum.  

Photo credit

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00227-005-0032-3

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

Blacksnout Seasnail

Paralipparis copei copei

The Blacksnout Seasnail may not look like a snail, but it does have a slimy, gelatinous substance that covers its body. It can be found at depths between 200 m to 1692 m, and adults grow up to be 17 cm in size (approximately 6.5 in). It also has an elongated body that resembles an eel. Furthermore, it can be seen rolling itself in a loop; this behavior is a defensive posture that makes it appear like a jelly. In the darkness, predators tend to avoid the Blacksnout Seasnail because its often mistaken as a hunter due to its appearance and behavior.

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/

Piglet Squid

Helicocranchia pfefferi

The Piglet Squid is a very small and delicate, transparent squid. It is found at depths between 400 to 1000 m. It has an unique siphon that is used for jet propulsion and it resembles a pig muzzle. The young piglet squids tend to live close to the surface, and steadily migrates downward as they grow. This behavior is called ontogenetic migration.  

Photo credit: http://photo.cctv.com/2019/07/23/PHOAKMEBh8xJRaHXEUIGx8kE190723.xml

https://www.ourbreathingplanet.com/banded-piglet-squid/

Hula Skirt Siphonophore

Physophora hydrostatica

The Hula Skirt Siphonophore a deep sea siphonophore that is found between 700 m to 1000m. It is made of a colony of hundreds tiny zooids. The top portion of the colony holds the swimming bells, which allow the colony to move. The bottom of the siphonophore holds the orange ‘hula skirt,’ which is full of stinging tentacles. 

Photo link : https://twitter.com/montereyaq/status/1162068535331311617?lang=da

Pyrocystis fusiformis is a common plankton that produces bioluminescence. Not exactly a marine animal, but an amazing organism that produces bioluminescence. So, I thought it was worth sharing on this page. 

Pyrocystis fusiformis

Pyrocystis Fusiformis is a marine dinoflagellate that is non-motile and has a short life cycle (5-7 days). When disturbed, the dinoflagellate displays vibrant, blue bioluminescence. The bioluminescence is design to startle grazers, or cause them to glow, making them more vulnerable to predators. During the day, it uses photosynthesis to produce its own food, and it produce bioluminescence at night. Furthermore, it fixes carbon from the ocean and produces oxygen for the marine animals that live there. All in all, I find this diamond shaped plankton to be unique and beautiful.

Photo credit: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/2-bioluminescence-of-pyrocystis-fusiformis-gerd-guentherscience-photo-library.html

https://exploringtheinvisible.com/2013/11/21/c-mould-new-acquisition-pyrocystis-fusiformis/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/13084997@N03/32823053106

Glasshead Grenadier

Hymenocephalus italicus

The  Glasshead Grenadier is a small deep sea fish named due to a transparent memberane that covers its head. It has fragile head bones, and it feeds on surface copepods and crustaceans. This fish is located between 100 m to 2000 m in the ocean. 

Photo credit: https://www.fishbase.se/summary/1720

https://www.futura-sciences.com/planete/photos/oceanographie-abysses-ces-merveilles-profondeurs-40-photos-686/ocean-grenadier-vitrier-hymenocephalus-italicus-poisson-abysses-4541/

Pacific Viperfish

Chauliodus macouni

The Pacific Viperfish looks intimidating with its sharp, pointy teeth and large jaws. However, its body is small and elongated. It can be found at depths ranging from 250m to 4390m. The Pacific Viperfish long teeth are an unique adaptation designed to keep prey trapped, but it is dangerously close to its eyes. There have been instances when they have caught prey that are too large to swallow and it dies along with its last meal. The Pacific Viper also has photophores along its body and a light organ near its dorsal fin. These organs exhibit bioluminescence and help with attracting pray: as well as, communicating with mates and confuse predators. It is one of the most ferocious predators of the deep ocean. 

Photo credit: https://www.science-rumors.com/top-20-pacific-viperfish-facts-to-know-what-this-creature-is/

 https://goldfisho.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-viperfish/

Glowing sucker octopus

Stauroteuthis syrtensis

The Glowing Sucker Octopus can be found at 2500 m in the deep ocean. This unique creature has two fins that look similar to elephant ears. They move elegantly through the water by moving these fins and contracting their mantle. Evidence of this creature has only been spotted in the Atlantic Ocean.

Photo credit: https://octolab.tv/species/glowing-sucker-octopus/

https://ferrebeekeeper.wordpress.com/2011/03/14/glowing-sucker-octopus/

Marrus orthocanna

Marrus orthocanna is a deep sea siphonophore found at depths between 400m to 2200m. It has a colony of gas-filled zooids on the top used for locomotion. It also has a long, bright orange tentacles on the bottom. Marrus orthocanna are viscous predators and consume small crustceans and copepods. 

Photo credit: http://www.arcodiv.org/watercolumn/cnidarian/Marrus_orthocanna.html