Mysterious creatures at the bottom of the ocean

Glass Octopus

According to Live Science, researchers from the Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI) released footage of a glass octopus (Vitreledonella richardi) off the remote Phoenix Islands, 5,100 kilometers northeast of the Australian city of Sydney.

Like other glass creatures, such as glass frogs and comb jellies, the glass octopus is almost completely transparent, with only its eyes, optic nerves, and digestive tract visible.

Shape-shifting whales

The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) released footage showing a bright orange female whale swimming at a depth of about 2,013m, off the coast of Monterey Bay, California, USA.

The fish, which belongs to the Cetomimiformes order, is one of only 18 rare sightings of this species by scientists at the Institute during 34 years of deep-sea exploration.

Manatee

According to Sciencealert, manatees are a deep-sea sea cucumber, also in the Elpidiidae family. They are plump, chubby, and usually pink in color. They move around on their cute little stubby legs.

Scientists are trying to learn more about these strange creatures, because life at the bottom of the ocean is extremely diverse and we know almost nothing about it.

The Clarion-Clipperton Sea has been the site of mining, which can devastate deep-sea habitats. About 30 percent of the ocean is currently protected, but more needs to be done to determine whether it is enough to save endangered sea creatures, according to the researchers.

Alien Squid

NOAA scientists discovered a rare bigfin squid (genus Mangapinna) during a deep-sea expedition in the Gulf of Mexico in November.

The ghost squid has a very strange body with huge, iridescent fins and tentacles that bend like elbows.

To date, there have been fewer than 20 confirmed sightings of this squid since it was first discovered in 1998.

Giant ghost jellyfish

MBARI scientists discovered a giant ghost jellyfish at a depth of about 975m in Monterey Bay, California, USA.

The first giant ghost jellyfish was discovered in 1899, according to MBARI. Since then, scientists have only seen the creature about 10 times. Although rarely spotted, the jellyfish has been found in the depths of every ocean in the world, except the Arctic.

Ha An (Synthesis)

Source