In the Abyssal Fauna we find animals with surprising physical characteristics, worthy of a horror movie. The beings of the abyssal deep sea live in the dark in a world little known to humans. They are blind, have large teeth and some of them even have bioluminescence These impressive animals, very different from what we are used to, leave no one indifferent.
In this article on our site we will delve into the animals of the deep sea, explaining what their habitat is like, their characteristics and we will also show 10 examples with photographs Below we will reveal some of the most mysterious creatures on Earth and certain curiosities. Get ready to be a little scared!
Abyssal Sea Depths
Due to the arduous conditions of the environment, human beings have only explored 5% of the marine areas of the entire planet Earth. Therefore, the blue planet, covered in three quarters of its entirety by water, is almost unknown to us. However, scientists and explorers have been able to corroborate the existence of life in one of the deepest levels of the oceans, more than 4,000 meters deep.
Abyssal or abyssopelagic zones are specific places in the oceans that reach depths between 4.000 and 6,000 meters and which are located between the bathypelagic zone and the hadal zone. Sunlight does not penetrate to these levels, so the abyssal sea depths are dark, very cold areas, with great scarcity of food and enormous hydrostatic pressure.
Precisely because of these conditions, marine life is not very abundant, although it is surprising. The animals that live there do not feed on plants, since the vegetation cannot carry out photosynthesis, but on detritus that descends from the surface layers.
However, there are areas even deeper than abyssal areas, the abyssal trenches, up to approximately10 kilometers deep These places are characterized by being where two tectonic plates converge, and harbor even harsher conditions than those described in abyssal zones. Incredibly, there is still a special fauna here, such as fish and molluscs, mainly small and bioluminescent
It should be noted that, to this day, the deepest place in the ocean is located southeast of the Mariana Islands, at the bottom of the western Pacific Ocean, and is called theMariana Trench This place reaches a maximum depth of up to 11,034 meters. The tallest mountain on the planet, Mount Everest could be buried here, and there would still be 2 kilometers of space left over!
Characteristics of deep ocean animals
The abyssal or abyssopelagic fauna stands out as a group with a large number of strange and monstrous animals, such as consequence of pressure and others factors to which these beings must adapt.
A particular characteristic of animals that live in the depths of the sea is bioluminescenceMany animals in this group produce their own light thanks to special bacteria that they possess, either on their antennae, provided specifically to captivate their prey, or on their skin, to capture or escape from dangerous circumstances. Thus, the bioluminescence of their organs allows them to attract prey, escape predators and even communicate with other animals.
Abyssal gigantism is also common Huge creatures, such as sea spiders, up to 1.5 meters long, or crustaceans up to 50 centimeters are common in these places. However, these very particular characteristics are not the only ones that are surprising in the animals that live in the open and deep sea, there are other peculiarities as a result of the adaptation to living at such a distance from the level of the surface:
- Blindness or eyes often nonfunctional due to lack of light.
- Giant mouths and teeth, many times larger than their own bodies.
- Dilatable stomachs, capable of ingesting prey larger than themselves.
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10 animals of the deep ocean
Although much remains to be explored and discovered, new species are discovered every year that inhabit these inhospitable places on planet Earth. Next we will show 10 examples of animals of the deep ocean that have been recognized by man and that are very surprising:
1. Fanfin Anglers
We begin our list of deep sea animals with the "Fanfin Anglers" (Caulophryne jordani), a fish of the Caulophrynidae family with a very unique physical appearance. It measures between 5 and 40 centimeters and has a giant mouth with terrifying sharp teeth. This balloon-like being is equipped with sensitive organs in the form of spines that are used to detect the movements of prey. Also, its antenna is used to attract and catch its prey.
two. Eel shark
The eel shark (Chlamydoselachus anguineus) is considered a " living fossil", as it is one of the oldest species on earth, which has hardly changed during its evolution since prehistory.
It stands out for being an elongated and large animal, averaging 2 meters in length, although there are specimens that can reach4 meters His jaw, with 25 rows of 300 teeth , is particularly strong, allowing him to eat large prey. Lastly, they have 6 gill openings, swim with their mouths open, and feed on fish, squid, and sharks.
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3. Dumbo octopus
Under the term "Dumbo octopus" we designate the animals of the deep sea that belong to the genus Grimpoteuthis, within the order of the octopods. The name is inspired by one of the physical characteristics of these animals, which have two fins on their heads, just like the well-known Disney elephant. However, in this case, the fins help the Dumbo octopus to propel itself and swim.
This animal lives between 2,000 and 5,000 meters deep and feeds on worms, crustaceans, snails, copepods and bivalves thanks to the propulsion its siphons generate.
4. Goblin Shark
The goblin shark (Mitsukurina owstoni) is another of the most surprising deep-sea animals. This species can measure between two and three meters, however, it stands out for its jaw, full of very sharp teeth, as well as the extension protruding from his face.
However, the most characteristic feature of this being is its ability to project its jaw forward when it opens its mouth. Their diet is based on teleost fish, cephalopods and crabs.
5. Black Devil
The black devil (Melanocetus johnsonii) is an abyssal anglerfish measuring 20 centimeters that feeds mainly on crustaceans. Inhabits the deep sea between 1.000 and 3,6000 meters, reaching even 4,000. It has an appearance that some would consider fearsome, as well as a gelatinous appearance. This fish stands out for its bioluminescence, as it has a "lamp" that helps illuminate its dark surroundings.
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6. Dropfish
The blob fish, also known as the smudge fish (Psychrolutes marcidus), is one of the deep sea animals that has a gelatinous appearance and no muscles, in addition to soft bones. It lives at a depth of about 4,000 meters and holds the first prize as "the ugliest fish in the world" according to the Ugly Animal Preservation Society. It measures about 30 centimeters in length. This strange animal is sedentary, toothless and only feeds on prey that comes close to its mouth
7. Dragonfish
Dragon fish (Stomias boa) have a long, flattened body, between 30 and 40 centimeters in length. Its large mouth has long and sharp teeth, so much so that some specimens are not able to close their mouths completely.
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8. Anoplogaster
The next animal on our list of deep sea animals is the Anoplogaster, the only genus of fish in the family Anoplogasteridae. They usually measure between 10 and 18 centimeters in length and show some disproportionate teeth compared to the rest of the body. The anoplogaster does not have the ability of bioluminescence, but its way of hunting consists of staying still on the seafloor until a prey approaches and detects it by your senses.
9. Pompeii Worm
The Pompeii worm (Alvinella pompejana) is approximately 12 centimeters long. It has tentacles on its head and has a furry appearance. It lives attached to the walls of volcanic hydrothermal vents in ocean trenches. A curious thing about this animal is that it can withstand temperatures of up to 80 ºC while alive.
10. The viper fish
We end our list of deep-sea animals with the viper fish (Chauliodus danae), an elongated abyssal fish 30 centimeters long, which reaches depths of up to 4,400 meters. What is most surprising about this fish is its needle-sharp teeth, with which it attacks its prey after attracting them with the photophores bioluminescent or light organs located throughout their body.
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