Deep pelagic animals such as this fangtooth have body shapes and lifestyles that are uniquely adapted to life in the deep sea.

The majority of deep-sea animals, and perhaps the majority of all animals on Earth, live in the "deep pelagic zone"--the dark waters between the ocean surface and the seafloor. An important research paper by MBARI marine biologist Bruce Robison points out that this seemingly remote habitat is increasingly being affected by human activities.