Marine animal images
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Humboldt squid
Growing up to two meters (six feet) long, Humboldt squid (Dosidicus gigas) are formidable predators that hunt krill and a variety of fishes. Their normal habitat is within the tropical and subtropical waters of the East Pacific. © 2006 NOAA/MBARI -
Aulacoctena
This bright orange ctenophore in the genus Aulacoctena was observed at a depth of over 3,300 meters. © 2002 MBARI -
Brisingid seastar
Seastars within the family Brisingidae are typical occupants of the deep sea. They use all of those spiny arms to filter feed on particulate matter. Photo by Shana Goffredi. © 2001 MBARI -
Pom-pom anemone
Liponema brevicornis is a species of sea anemone commonly known as the pom-pom anemone. These large, round anemones roll around the seafloor like tumbleweeds. © 2012 MBARI -
Galiteuthis phyllura
A species of glass squid, Galiteuthis phyllura, or the "cockatoo squid," can remain motionless in the water column waiting for prey by regulating the ratio of ammonium chloride to seawater it holds in a specialized internal cavity. The cockatoo squid also varies from most squid in that rather than squirting out ink, it fills its body with ink to camoflauge its internal organs, which are otherwise visible through its transparent body. © 2006 MBARI -
Crabs, corals, shrimps, and sponges
Lithodid crabs, small red shrimp (Pandalopsis sp.), bubblegum coral (Paragorgia arborea), yellow sponge (Staurocalyptus sp.), and a white branching finger sponge (Asbestopluma sp.).
© 2006 MBARI -
Stellamedusa ventana
This species is commonly known as the "bumpy jelly," due to warts that cover the organism. These warts contain concentrated amounts of stinging nematocysts. © 2003 MBARI -
Goniasterid seastar
A goniasterid sea star eats its way up a gorgonian. This image was taken at Gorda Ridge during MBARI's 2002 West Coast expedition. © 2002 MBARI -
Vampyroteuthis infernalis
The vampire squid is neither a squid nor an octopus. It is the only living member of the cephalopod order Vampyromorpha which gave rise to both squids and octopuses. Vampire squids are often found lurking in the oxygen minimum zone, an area ranging from 500 to 700 meters deep (in the Monterey Bay) which is very low in dissolved oxygen and thus hosts very little life within its boundaries. © 2004 MBARI -
Araeosoma leptaleum
A collection of sea urchins gathered on a strand of kelp on the seafloor.
© 2003 MBARI
