Snailfish 09.08.25 animal Type Maximum Size 50 cm (20 inches) Depth Tide pools–8,300 m (up to 27,200 feet) Habitat Seafloor From tide pools (intertidal zone) to abyssal zone and trenches (hadal zone), occasionally midwater Diet Invertebrates Range Worldwide About It’s stick or swim for these fishes. Most snailfishes (family Liparidae) live near the seafloor, riding the currents …
Acorn worm 09.04.25 Acorn worms move along the deep seafloor feasting on organic material and locking away carbon from the ocean’s surface.
Predatory tunicate 08.19.25 The predatory tunicate uses a cavernous hood to snap up unsuspecting crustaceans and other morsels of food.
Midwater octopus 06.25.25 animal Type Maximum Size 16 cm (6 inches) total length Depth 200–1,200 m (660–3,900 feet) Habitat Midwater Twilight (mesopelagic) zone and upper midnight (bathypelagic) zone, including the oxygen minimum zone Diet Zooplankton Including crustaceans and siphonophores Range Worldwide Tropical and subtropical waters, as well as cold temperate waters in the North Pacific Ocean About This …
Armored sea cucumber 04.08.25 The armored sea cucumber holds tight to the seafloor, with feathery tentacles to catch food and hard scales to protect from predators.
Crystal amphipod 03.10.25 Invisible armor and giant eyes help the crystal amphipod survive life in the expansive waters of the ocean’s twilight zone.
Fingered goblet sponge 12.02.24 Massive fingered goblet sponges grow together in dense gardens that offer safety and shelter for an assortment of other animals.
Mystery mollusc 11.12.24 animal Type Maximum Size 14.5 cm (5.5 inches) Depth 1,000–4,000 m (3,300–13,100 feet) Habitat Midwater Midnight (bathypelagic) zone Diet Crustaceans Including mysid shrimp Range Northeastern Pacific Ocean Oregon to Southern California, but possibly more widespread About Our first sighting of this unique sea slug stumped our scientists. In early 2000, we encountered a curious critter …
Dinner plate jelly 10.15.24 The dinner plate jelly is one of the ocean’s top predators, with an appetite for other gelatinous animals.
Giant cusk-eel 09.03.24 The giant cusk-eel has a keen sense of smell to find food on the sprawling deep seafloor.