Helmet Jelly

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/

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/

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

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

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

Silky Medusa

Colobonema sericeum

The Silky Medusa is a gentle and reserved jellyfish; it has white-tipped tentacles that have the ability to detach from its body and bioluminescence when attacked by predators. It can be found drifting between 500 m to 1500 m. Furthermore, it consumes small crustaceans. 

Photo credit:  https://twitter.com/mbari_news/status/949736123760340994

https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/animals-a-to-z/midwater-jelly

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

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

Predatory Copepod

Paraeuchaeta barbata

Copepods are a type of zooplankton or tiny creature that feeds larger animals in the ocean such as, fish. They are crustaceans that have two long antennas and a sensory eye called an ocelli, which can only sense light. This copepod is located between 200m to 1500 m in the deep ocean. You may notice the copepod is red in color. The color is an adaptation that makes it difficult for predators to see the copepod because red wave lengths do not penetrate this depth (mostly blue and indigo light). Even though this creature tiny, it is a vital food source for many animals in the abyssal zone of the ocean.

Photo credit: http://www.arcodiv.org/watercolumn/copepod/Paraeuchaeta_barbata_large.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/