Squids
Marine creatures that live deep beneath the ocean’s surface have developed special capabilities to survive. One group of organisms that have adapted to the deep ocean environment are the squids, which can grow to be as large as 10 feet in length. Squids have developed very specialized camouflage which protects them from deep-sea predators. Unlike their relatives, the cuttlefish, the squid can use their ability to change color and body patterns to blend in with their surroundings. They can blend in with seagrasses, rocks, and coral reefs. They can also send a chemical signal to one another to flash a warning pattern to warn a potential predator.
Frilled sharks
Frilled sharks are some of the strangest creatures of the deep sea. They have special features that make them look like monsters. Their bodies are long and slender with a large tail. They have a long, skirt-like tail fin that is encrusted with sharp spines. Their head is long and their jaws are lined with sharp, pointed teeth that are very similar to a saw blade. The frilled shark is dark gray to brownish in color. On the dorsal side (top) of the shark, it has a series of raised, blue spots. The frilled shark is also one of the few fish that has a comb-like gill covering that is covered in sharp spines. This gill cover is used to threaten potential predators. These sharks typically grow to be about 6 feet in length. They are found in the subtropical and temperate waters around the world.
Trilobites
Trilobites are ancient creatures that are closely related to crabs. They have a very small size, typically less than a half-inch in length. Trilobites are found in the oceans but have a very thin, translucent shell that allows sunlight to penetrate for photosynthesis. Trilobites have very large eyes that give them exceptional vision. They have a large, segmented antenna on the top of their heads. Trilobites have 2 very large compound eyes, and a single, smaller simple eye. Trilobites can grow to be about 2 inches in length but typically grow to be less than 1 inch. Trilobites are found on the ocean floor but prefer to stay in burrows. They live in congregations of 100’s to 1000’s. They are very social creatures and live in family groups with the males living in burrows with their young. They have many predators, including crabs, octopus, and small fish.
Pink Sea Cucumbers
Pink Sea Cucumbers are found in the deep-sea environment. They live in the cold, dark depths of the ocean. Pink Sea Cucumbers are close relatives of the sea star, and they have a very flat body. These sea cucumbers look very much like a sea cucumber, only pinker. They are very small creatures, generally less than 1 inch in length. They live in very deep waters, as deep as 12,000 feet. Their bodies are flat and their skin is very smooth. They have small little eyes that are very undeveloped, and they don’t have a mouth. They have a long, adhesive tube that they use as a way to get around. They can get around at the depths that they are found at because they have a gas bladder that they can control. They slowly stick their tube to things and move around this way. They use this tube to look for food as well. They have a very useful, large cloaca that is on their belly. They fill this with water and then shoot it out through a small opening at the end of their bodies. This helps to clean them. They catch their food with grasping tentacles. Sea cucumbers are very slow-moving creatures that feed on small animals and plants.
Basket Stars
Basket stars are found on the ocean floor at depths from 10,000 to 20,000 feet. Basket stars are very unique and strange creatures that are related to the starfish. Basket stars are creatures that have 5 arms that are connected to the center, which is called a “calamerite”. They have 1 central disk and 5 radial arms. They have a very long, tube-like structure that is used to get around on the ocean floor. It is called a “coelom”. This tube-like structure is a fluid-filled tube that is high pressure. It has a low surface area to volume ratio. This tube is used for movement, but it also has many uses in the water. Basket stars are very interesting creatures that have many predators. The basket stars are very fragile creatures that have very thin skeleton. They have many predators, including fishes, crabs, and octopus.
Stalked Crinoids
Stalked crinoids are found in the deep sea. They are also called feather stars or sea lilies. They are star-shaped creatures that live at depths of 1000 to 6000 feet. They have a very small size and a gelatinous body. They have a head and arms that are held up by a tube-like structure that is called a “coelom”. This tube-like structure is open at the top and bottom of the tube. The sea lilies use their tube-like body to get around on the ocean floor. They use their “armpit” to grab onto hard objects like rocks. They also use their tube-like body as an anchor. They have a large number of predators. They use their tube-like structure to kill their prey. Crinoids have a very rapid lifecycle. They live about 2 to 7 years and then reproduce. They have very good vision and are able to see their prey with the help of their compound eyes. Crinoids are a very interesting group of creatures, they have very long lives, are very sensitive to motion and vibration, and are very powerful.
Horseshoe Crabs
Horseshoe crabs are a very unique animal. They are not actually crabs, they are more closely related to spiders. They have a very hard, armored-like shell that they use to protect themselves. These crabs have very large mouths and they have very big, very strong pinchers that they use to catch their food. They use their hard shell to protect themselves from predators. They can do this because their shells can regenerate when they are injured. They are found in the deep sea on the ocean floor. They can be found in both tropical and cool waters. They are found on the ocean floor and on the beach. The males have a very large, muscular tail that is used as a courtship tool. They carry their tails up into the air to attract females. Their courtship behaviors are very similar to that of the peacock. The males have the largest tails, the largest pincher sizes, and the best shells. They have very large shells that are used to protect themselves. Their shells can grow to be about 4 inches across. These crabs also have very large, strong pinchers that they use to grab their prey.
Deep-sea creatures are some of the most interesting creatures in the ocean. The creatures that live on the ocean floor are very strange and interesting because they have adapted to their environment. Some of these creatures have developed specialized adaptations to survive in the deep sea. These specialized adaptations are used by many creatures living in the deep sea.