Hello fellow Marine Biologists! It’s time for me to bring back one of my favorite topics! As said multiple times in the past, I love marine life, and I’m always amazed at the new creatures that are discovered. This post will discuss some of the coolest creatures of the sea. Now, let’s begin our incredible journey!
- Helmet Jelly (Periphylla periphylla) Size: Can be up to 1m Depths found in: 0-7000m Habitats: Oceans worldwide as well as the Mediterranean Sea Diet: Plankton
The Helmet Jelly is one of the largest Jellyfish found in the deep sea. It is usually bright red in color, and emits a bioluminescent glow. This glow allows the creature to distinguish between light and dark. The Jelly is actually considered to be quite a nuisance in Norway, as it devours many resources in isolated ecosystems.
- Radiolarians (Tuscaridium cygneum) Size: 1.2 cm Depths found in: 400-2200m Habitat: Oceans worldwide Diet: Phytoplankton
Radiolarians are unique types of Zooplankton that mainly reside in the column of deep waters. Despite being microscopic in size, when zoomed in on, they’re quite beautiful, and resemble spherical spiky balls. They also can’t swim, and remain perfectly still, floating in the deep depths. When disturbed, the Radiolarian will emit a bioluminescent glow. Upon death, the skeletons of these creatures will fall to the ocean floor, and are one of the prime materials found in abyssal sediment.