Have you ever wondered how some animals can survive in the deepest, darkest parts of the ocean, with atmospheric pressures of up to 600 atm(standard atmosphere)(enough to easily crush a human)? How could a place like the bottom of the ocean even support life? Over the course of countless years, the animals that reside here have adapted to this harsh environment, which in turn may cause them to look funny or grotesque.
- Anglerfish: Potentially the most infamous example, the anglerfish has a bright lure that allows them to attract prey. This is possible due to the bioluminescent bacteria that is present at the end of their rod. In some species of anglerfish, the males are much smaller than the female, sometimes acting as a parasite.
- Pelican eel: Another freaky animal is the pelican eel, or the gulper eel as it is more commonly known. The pelican eel’s mouth is 11 times the volume of its full body length when it is fully open, allowing it to eat larger fish whole when struggling to find crustaceans, its usual diet. Speaking of which, this eel has extremely small eyes compared to other animals in the twilight zone, which means it has a hard time locating prey with its eyes. It lures prey using a pink light on its rear fins.
- Vampire squid: This mystical looking squid searches for small debris and bits to eat with its long feeding filaments. It is one of the only cephalopod species that does not actively hunt, and instead scavenges. Unlike the previous pelican eel, the vampire squid has huge eyes. Specifically, in proportion to the rest of its body, it has the largest eyes of any animal. When surprised or threatened, it inverts its long, webbed arms, revealing spikes that ward off any potential predators.
- Giant Tubeworms: These funky looking creatures gather near hydrothermal vents, where heat and sulfur is released into the ocean. These worms don’t have to eat, as bacteria inside them converts sulfur into energy. When volcanic activity in a certain area stops, the entire colony of tubeworms living there will die due to a lack of heat. However, when a new hot spring pops up in another area, no matter the distance, tubeworm larvae will congregate there and start a colony anew.
- Barreleye Fish: This fish looks super peculiar, as the top side of its head is translucent, which allows its green eyes to look upward. This allows them to spot crustaceans that are tangled in the tentacles of siphonophores. They also have very wide fins that allow them to move precisely in the water and stay nearly still.
Even in these extreme conditions, these animals are able to survive thanks to their unique adaptations. Whether it be darkness or pressure nature has found a way to persist. This underscores the resilience of life, having the ability to succeed even in the ruthless depths of the ocean.
Comments are closed.