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MBARI’s Top 10 weirdest Deep-sea Animals

Source: YouTube/MBARI

Researchers from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) share their Top 10 most bizarre creatures from the deep, and the reasons why they love them.

Researchers share their favourite strange deep-sea dwellers

For more than three decades, researchers from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) have been exploring the deep ocean with remotely operated vehicles, discovering fascinating ways that life in the deep sea has evolved to thrive in this dark, cold world. The ocean is vast and full of things yet unseen. Every time researchers set out on an expedition, they are amazed by new observations and today they are excited to share ten of those discoveries with you! Below, in descending order, are images of the researchers’ Top 10, and a video explaining why they are so fond of these particular bizarre deep-sea creatures. All images and footage ©MBARI 

This creature can swim either backwards and forwards without changing the direction it’s facing.
#10 Tomopteris Worm This creature can swim either backwards and forwards without changing the direction it’s facing. Source: YouTube/MBARI
This thing looks Like an underwater fireworks display.
#9 Crossota Jelly This thing looks Like an underwater fireworks display. Source: YouTube/MBARI
Its teeth act as bars to keep prey in its mouth.
#8 Pacific Viperfish Its teeth act as bars to keep prey in its mouth. Source: YouTube/MBARI
With one big eye for spotting prey above, and one small eye for looking down into the depths, this thing is definitely unusual to human eyes.
#7 Strawberry Squid With one big eye for spotting prey above, and one small eye for looking down into the depths, this thing is definitely unusual to human eyes. Source: YouTube/MBARI
Related to sea stars, these animals look like underwater flowers... that swim.
#6 Feather Star Related to sea stars, these animals look like underwater flowers… that swim. Source: YouTube/MBARI
These creatures would be truly terrifying if they weren’t so tiny.
#5 Phronima amphipod These creatures would be truly terrifying if they weren’t so tiny. Source: YouTube/MBARI
Named after the Roman city that was buried by a volcanic eruption, these worms thrive in scalding water temperatures of 200° Celsius (392° F).
#4 Pompeii Worms Named after the Roman city that was buried by a volcanic eruption, these worms thrive in scalding water temperatures of 200° Celsius (392° F). Source: YouTube/MBARI
These creatures’ propulsion system catches the light to create 8 rows of rainbows on its sides.
#3 Bloody Belly Comb Jelly These creatures’ propulsion system catches the light to create 8 rows of rainbows on its sides. Source: YouTube/MBARI
Misnomer of the deep, this outlandish animal is nowhere near as scary as its name or appearance would have you believe. It doesn’t drink blood, it eats ?
#2 Vampire Squid Misnomer of the deep, this outlandish animal is nowhere near as scary as its name or appearance would have you believe. It doesn’t drink blood, it eats ? Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80OG2BGrmyA&feature=youtu.be YouTube/MBARI
Voted weirdest creature of the deep by the undersea researchers of MBARI
#1 Barreleye Fish Voted weirdest creature of the deep by the undersea researchers of MBARI Source: YouTube/MBARI

The deep sea—Earth’s largest habitat—is home to a host of magical and mysterious animals

As the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) help their education and conservation partners at the Monterey Bay Aquarium prepare for the exhibit Into the Deep: Exploring Our Undiscovered Ocean, launching in 2022, they were curious to know which denizens of the deep are MBARI’s favourites? With that question in mind, they gathered five of MBARI’s finest deep-sea biologists—Shannon Johnson, Kakani Katija, George Matsumoto, Bruce Robison, and Susan von Thun—and came up with a list of ten favourites. You might be surprised to see what made their list and what makes these creatures so lovable.

MBARI's Top 10 deep-sea animalsSource: YouTube/MBARI
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