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      MBARI creates and globally scales the visionary technologies required to explore, map, and understand our changing ocean.

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    • Education

      Resources for educators, students, and anyone aspiring to learn how science and technology brings us closer to the ocean.

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      • EARTH Curriculum

        Integrate MBARI data with lesson plans and workshops.

      • Animals of the Deep

        Discover deep-sea critters, including exclusive footage and info.

      • Know Your Ocean

        Dive into topics about ocean health and its fascinating features.

      • Deep-Sea Guide

        Explore deep-sea observations with this interactive guide.

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        Learn about the MLML/MBARI Research Library at SJSU.

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        Access more educational resources from the teams at MBARI.

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    • About

      MBARI is a non-profit oceanographic research center advancing marine science and engineering to understand our changing ocean.

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      • Mission & Vision

        Learn about MBARI’s mission, vision, and values.

      • Strategic Roadmap

        Learn about our strategic priorities for the years ahead.

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        Explore MBARI’s rich history spanning over three decades.

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  • Our Work
    • Our Work

      MBARI creates and globally scales the visionary technologies required to explore, map, and understand our changing ocean.

    • Our Work Sub
      • Research & Development
        • Focus Areas
        • Teams
        • Projects
        • Data & Repositories
        • Publications
        • Expeditions
      • Technology
        • All Technologies
        • Instruments
        • Observatories
        • Software
        • Vehicles
        • Tech Transfer
      • Marine Operations
        • Monterey Bay Today
        • Ships
        • Schedules
  • Education
    • Education

      Resources for educators, students, and anyone aspiring to learn how science and technology brings us closer to the ocean.

    • Education Sub
      • EARTH Curriculum

        Integrate MBARI data with lesson plans and workshops.

      • Animals of the Deep

        Discover deep-sea critters, including exclusive footage and info.

      • Know Your Ocean

        Dive into topics about ocean health and its fascinating features.

      • Deep-Sea Guide

        Explore deep-sea observations with this interactive guide.

      • Library

        Learn about the MLML/MBARI Research Library at SJSU.

      • More Resources

        Access more educational resources from the teams at MBARI.

  • News
  • About
    • About

      MBARI is a non-profit oceanographic research center advancing marine science and engineering to understand our changing ocean.

    • About Sub
      • Mission & Vision

        Learn about MBARI’s mission, vision, and values.

      • Strategic Roadmap

        Learn about our strategic priorities for the years ahead.

      • Leadership & Staff

        Meet our staff, leadership, and board of directors.

      • Careers

        Find job openings and postdoc and internship opportunities.

      • Connect with Us

        Follow MBARI on social media and stay updated.

      • Events

        See upcoming seminars, lectures, and public events.

      • Reports & Financials

        Access the latest annual reports and financial information.

      • History

        Explore MBARI’s rich history spanning over three decades.

      • For Media

        Get media-specific information and assets.

  • Publications
  • Data
  • Directory
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  • Animals of the Deep

    Discover deep-sea critters of all types.

  • Data & Repositories

    Search MBARI’s library of data.

  • Technologies

    Learn about our technologies.

Animals of the Deep

From a fish with a transparent head to an adorable octopus with webbed arms, MBARI researchers have encountered some captivating creatures in more than three decades of deep-sea research. Meet some of our favorite denizens of the deep and learn about their adaptations to survive in an environment of frigid cold, inky darkness, and crushing pressure.

A deep purple abyssal comb jelly with folded mouth

Abyssal comb jelly

(Beroe abyssicola)

Angler siphonophore

(Erenna sirena)

Balloon worm

(Poeobius meseres)

Bamboo coral

(family Isididae)

Barrel amphipod

(Phronima sedentaria)

Barreleye fish

(Macropinna microstoma)

A yellow basket star attached to a rock on the muddy deep seafloor and extending its curly arms into the water

Basket star

(Gorgonocephalus eucnemis)

Big red jelly

(Tiburonia granrojo)

Bloody-belly comb jelly

(Lampocteis cruentiventer)

Bomber worm

(Swima sp.)

California sun star

(Rathbunaster californicus)

Common siphonophore

(Nanomia bijuga)

Deep-sea anglerfish

(order Lophiiformes)

Deep-sea crown jelly

(Atolla sp.)

Deep-sea squid

(Bathyteuthis sp.)

Dragonfish

(family Stomiidae)

Fangtooth

(Anoplogaster cornuta)

Flapjack octopus

(Opisthoteuthis sp.)

Giant phantom jelly

(Stygiomedusa gigantea)

Giant sea spider

(Colossendeis sp.)

Giant tubeworm

(Riftia pachyptila)

Harp sponge

(Chondrocladia lyra)

Pacific viperfish

(Chauliodus macouni)

Pompeii worm

(Alvinella pompejana)

Psychedelic jelly

(Crossota millsae)

Rattail fish

(family Macrouridae)

Red siphonophore

(Marrus claudanielis)

Sea pig

(Scotoplanes sp.)

A bright blue silky jelly photographed in the lab against a black background

Silky jelly

(Colobonema sericeum)

Strawberry squid

(Histioteuthis heteropsis)

Vampire squid

(Vampyroteuthis infernalis)

Whalefish

(family Cetomimidae)

Whiptail gulper eel

(Saccopharynx lavenbergi)

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