Animals That Live Under The Sea
The oceans are one of the least explored parts of planet Earth. We know that in its depths there is a great variety of life and we know that we are very far from knowing it in its entirety. Today we will reveal a little about the characteristics of the animals that live on the seabed.
the marine depths
Source: wikipedia
The ocean is huge. Three-quarters of the planet is covered in water and it is estimated that we only know about 5%. This is because it is difficult to access these places, it is only possible with special equipment and well-prepared scientists to access this place.
When we speak of deep sea or abyss, we are referring to the space of the oceans that is between 4,000 and 6,000 meters deep. In this area, light does not penetrate and temperatures hover around two degrees centigrade.
There are places deeper than the abyssal zone. Sea caves, which reach up to 12 kilometers deep, are especially deep places where two tectonic plates converge. They are special and rare places that shelter their own fauna.
Characteristics of animals that live on the seabed
The animals that appear in the deep abyss are very varied and come from many different families. However, the harsh living conditions that exist under the ocean mean that they have certain characteristics in common.
Lack of sunlight prevents photosynthesis and growth of any plant species. The abyssal fauna feeds mainly on hunting. Those who don’t hunt feed on the remains of animals on the surface that are gradually submerged.
The appearance of these animals often seems monstrous to us. Due to the lack of light, many developed unusually large eyes, others developed huge mouths and sharp teeth, sometimes larger than the rest of their bodies.
Due to the lack of sunlight, some have developed bioluminescent organs, that is, they are capable of creating light. Some fish have specially prepared antennae to attract their prey with light, and others light their skin to ward off predators.
Gigantism is a common feature. Some species are disproportionately larger than other sea surface species. Fish over two meters in length or crustaceans that reach 50 centimeters in diameter are two examples.
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spiny frogfish
The toadfish (pictured above) is one of the most frightening-looking animals that live on the seabed. However, it is relatively small: the larger females are only 25 centimeters long. Their “spines” are actually very sensitive organs that detect the movement of their possible prey.
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dragon fish
Dragonfish is a species of fish, of which there are three recognized subspecies. In general, they are fish with an elongated and flat body and, although the overall size depends on each species, the average is 30 to 40 centimeters in length.
The most remarkable thing about this animal is the length of its body, but also the size of its mouth. Their teeth are so sharp and long that in some specimens it has been found that they cannot completely close their mouths.
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giant tube worms
Giant tube worms are one of the species affected by gigantism. They are invertebrate beings that form groups on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean and live inside chitinous tubes near chimneys of volcanic origin.
They have an extremely slow metabolism, which allows them to be very long-lived: it has been found that they can live up to two and a half centuries. In terms of size, some have grown to two and a half meters in length, but generally only grow to a meter and a half.
They have no digestive system: they are nourished thanks to all the bacteria that cover their body and help them to synthesize food. Without this symbiotic relationship, these animals could not survive.
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crystal squid
Crystal squids are a family of cephalopods that got their name because they are transparent. They are also known as crystal jellyfish or cranes. Some species live on the surface, but there is one that inhabits waters more than two kilometers deep.
Within this family there are big differences in size, as the smallest measures a few centimeters and the largest reaches two meters in length. The shape of the bodies is similar: they have a round body and have short tentacles, which have suckers.
Some species are bioluminescent thanks to organs located on the sides of the eyes. They use this feature to camouflage themselves at the marine base. In general, your entire body is transparent, except for one digestive gland located in the center of your body.
The abyssal depths are hard to reach places on our planet. The little we know about them allows us to guarantee that, despite being inhospitable places, they are home to a lot of life and the animals that live under the sea are incredible.
