Brittle Stars

Pram Bug

Phronima sedentaria

The Pram Bug is a deep sea amphipod that is located between 200 to 1000m in the ocean. It has a translucent exoskeleton and can see primarily blue light. It is also is contained in a hollowed out barrel that is used for protection and to house babies. The image above is a female pram bug carrying its young. 

Photo Credit:https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/invertebrates/phronima-female-and-young

Glass Octopus

Vitreledonella richardi

The Glass Octopus spend its entire life in the midwater section of the ocean and found at depths between 200m to 2000m. Even though it has no protection from predators, it achieves perfect transparency. The only part of the Glass Octopus that is visible is its digestive gland. However, the digestive gland is placed vertically to minimize detection. In addition, I find this octopus to be super cute!

Photo credit: https://www.mynumer.com/forums/topic/499/invisible-animals/view/post_id/859

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

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

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

Periphyllopsis braueri

The  Periphyllopsis braueri is a tiny, deep sea jellyfish that is only 6 cm in diameter. It is red-chocolate  in color, and it has eight gonads. Furthermore, it is found at depths between 600m to 1000m. 

Photo credit: https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/19gulfofalaska/logs/aug2/aug2.html

Crystal Jellyfish

Aequorea victoria

The Crystal Jellyfish is a graceful, transparent jellyfish with long, thin tentacles. It has bioluminescent organs around it bell that produce a bright, green light. It tends to consume small copepods, but it has the ability to swallow other jellyfish half its size. Furthermore, this jelly is used in biological experiments to detect calcium.

Photo credit: https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/animals-a-to-z/crystal-jelly

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/5-aequorea-crystal-jellyfish-with-amphipods-alexander-semenovscience-photo-library.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

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

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.