What are deep sea creatures? From brainless and eyeless wonders to the sea monsters from your worst nightmares, the deep sea is home to an array of weird and wonderful creatures, some of which we know almost nothing about. Scientists estimate that only 5% of Earth’s oceans have been explored by humans and are constantly making discoveries of new species and deep sea creatures making them some of the most strange and fascinating organisms on the planet.
Deep Sea Creatures
What are Deep Sea Creatures?
As the name suggests, these creatures inhabit the deepest and darkest parts of the ocean, thousands of feet below the surface. Deep sea creatures have adapted to survive in one of the planet’s most extreme habitats, making them look and behave very differently from the creatures we know and encounter regularly, which is why they grab our attention.
The suns’ rays cannot penetrate the depths, meaning these waters have no light or heat. Many deep sea creatures have adapted to live without their eyesight and some have even evolved to have no eyes altogether.
With the colossal weight of the world above, the pressure here is unbearable for most other organisms. This, and the lack of sunlight, means oxygen and food are scarce.
List of Deep Sea Creatures
- Frilled Shark
- Anglerfish
- Goblin Shark
- Stargazer
- Giant Squid
- Blue-Ringed Octopus
- Leafy Sea Dragon
Deep Sea Creatures and Their Facts
So what kind of creatures can survive this unforgiving environment? How has evolution helped these species to thrive in the deep sea? Here are a few facts about some of the weirdest deep sea creatures in our oceans.
Frilled Shark
Lurking at depths of over 5000 feet, the frilled shark is similar to the more familiar sharks we can see in an aquarium, only with 25 terrifying rows of three-pointed teeth
Anglerfish
These lure prey into their jaws using a bioluminescent ‘lamp’ antenna. The largest in the species can be up to 3.5 feet long. Surprisingly, when these fish find a mate, much like penguins, they stay together.
Goblin Shark
Voted one of the ugliest animals in the world, the goblin shark has a long, pointed snout, and a detachable mouth, meaning it can extend its jaws to devour its prey
Stargazer
Despite the pretty name, a stargazer sports two venomous spines, with some species even able to electrocute its prey. Its eyes face upwards, so it can attack unsuspecting meals from below
Giant Squid
Unfortunately not a myth, the giant squid can reach lengths up to 59 feet and weigh almost a ton. Their eyes can be 10 inches in diameter, which is almost the size of a dinner plate
Blue-Ringed Octopus
Not all deep sea creatures look like sea monsters on television. The blue-ringed octopus vary in size from 4 – 8 inches, and its bright colours makes it look friendly. However, one bite from this creature can easily paralyse and kill humans, it is considered one of the most poinsonous animals in the world
Leafy Sea Dragon
Closely related to pipefishes, these beautiful creatures resemble sea horses and as poor swimmers, have evolved to look like aquatic plants to avoid predators
Deep Sea Creatures | Picture
Wow! Is it only me who thought Octopi are always larger than squids? Well, I certainly was wrong not knowing about the existence of such strange creature 😀