Common Name: Dumbo Octopus
Scientific Name/Class: Grimpoteuthis
The Dumbo Octopus lives in the East Pacific Rise, 300-5000 m down. They vary in color and some have blue eyes. There are 14 different species of this cool creature.
Clearly shows reason for such a humorous name.
Common Name: Marrus Orthocanna
Scientific Name/Class: Siphonophore
This bell shaped jelly can be found in the East Pacific and West Atlantic Ocean about 400-3000 m deep. The dark orange and red in their body indicates the digestive system. The one in the photo shown has a blue tint, a defense mechanism that fires off bioluminescence to ward off predators.
Common Name: Ping Pong Tree Sponge
Scientific Name/Class: Chondrochladia Lampadiglobus
Little is known about this type of sponge, they live 2600-3000 m down into the abyss. They can grow up to 19 inches tall feeding on small invertebrates passing by.
Common Name: Comb Jelly
Scientific Name/Class: Mertensia Ovum
Quite the light show here, this comb pulsates to dissuade predators. despite its name it is not a true jelly, it lacks cnidocytes (the cells containing toxins to sting). Their tentacles catch prey with a sticky substance that is fired when touched.
Common Name: Deep Sea Spider
Scientific Name/Class: Munnopsis
These are not related to pycnogonids, the true sea spider. They travel three dimensional, by walking through the water at depths of 900-3000 m. Their body is less than 1 inch long but their legs total to about 6 inches.
Here is one 'walking'.
Leg Structures.
----------------------Unidentified deep sea creatures---
Photos by: Steven Haddock, David Shale, MBARI, and Kevin Rascoff.
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Sources: http://jeb.biologists.org/ (PDF files) Dictionary.com, http://www.itis.gov/, and a little wikipedia (mostly for comparison).
