Wolftrap Angler

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

Deep-sea white anglerfish

Haplophryne mollis

The Deep-sea white anglerfish is a ghostly white creature found at depths between 1000m to 4000m. The strange bulge between its eyes is a bioluminescent lure. The main fish above is a female and the tiny fish attached to her body are males. Since it is difficult to find mates in the deep ocean, male fish latch onto the female with hooked teeth. Even though the male fish are parasitic, they are eventually reduced to pockets of sperm that are used for reproduction. For all you fellas out there that have a rough time with the ladies, be thankful that you are at least not a bag of gonads floating through the ocean. 

Photo credit: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/440297301041956897/

https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d3d414d3559444f7a457a6333566d54/share_p.html

Black Dragonfish

Idiacanthus atlanticus

The Black Dragonfish are needle-like fish that migrate between 500m and 2000m in the deep ocean. Females are black with 6 stripes and lack a barbel, pelvic fins, and sharp teeth. Males, on the other hand, are dark brown and have a barbel, which is the light producing structure on its chin. Furthermore, it uses bioluminescence to detect prey instead of lure prey.

Photo credit: https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-learn-secrets-from-ultra-black-skin-that-allows-deep-sea-fish-to-lurk-unseen/

https://steemit.com/life/@munnashah/the-most-terrible-and-surprising-7-animals-of-the-sea

https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/995601-thalassophobia

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

Sea sparkle is a common, bioluminescent plankton. Even though its not an animal, it is worth sharing. 

Sea sparkle

Noctiluca scintillans

Sea sparkle is a bioluminescent dinoflagellate that blooms in many coastal waters. Sea sparkle feeds on plankton, diatoms, fish eggs, and other dinoflagellates.  It also has a flagellum, or tiny tail, that helps it move around in the water. Even though sea sparkle is beautiful to witness at night, it is hazardous to other marine species and resembles a reddish-pink film during the day. 

Photo credit: 

https://alexandrathemb.tumblr.com/post/49814932878/noctilucas-scintillans-a-bioluminescent

https://thevelv.blogspot.com/2015/07/noctiluca-scintillans.html

Dear ocean enthusiast and supporters,

Hi everyone, thank you for supporting my blog. I have gained over 500 followers and that is worth celebrating. I will try my best to post every day some of the amazing creatures that live in the deep ocean. Have a great night!

Black Medusa

Vampyrocrossota childressi

The Black Medusa is an inky, black hydrozoan that absorbs all light that hits its tiny body. It has a translucent gelatin and a black umbrella; it is also only 1.5 cm in size. Moreover, it is found at depths between 600m to 1500m, and it spends its entire life floating in the deep ocean. 

Photo credit: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/488148047080475827/

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

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

Football Fish

Himantolophus paucifilosus

The Football fish is a deep sea angular fish located between 1000 to 4000 meters in the ocean. The glowing dots on its body are sensory organs called neuromast that help the fish detect changes in the water.

Photo credit: https://alchetron.com/Footballfish

https://www.amazon.com/Creatures-Deep-Search-Monsters-World/dp/1770852816