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The Blobfish is just one of the many weird and wonderful deep water species under threat from bottom trawling.
Enlarge imageOn some mountains, groves of towering corals reach up into the darkness, catching food in their open fans. Some corals are thousands of years old, several storeys high, with trunks as thick as lamp posts. These slow growing corals are the ancient forests of the deep.
Sea spiders, whelks, octopus, squid and other animals weave their way through the forest while other crustaceans hide in crevices. In the sediments a myriad of worms, clams, shells and small crustaceans thrive. In these deep-sea forests unknown creatures have lived for millions of years.
Many deep sea fish can change sex during the course of their lives. Other, especially rare deep sea fish, have both male and female sex organs.
Some seamount creatures are living fossils from groups believed extinct since the time of the dinosaurs.
Examples deep sea life
Cold water corals
The deep-sea is home to remarkably rich coral habitats. Once thought to inhabit only the warm and shallow waters of tropical and subtropical regions, corals are now known to thrive in the deep, dark and cold waters of the ocean.
Having colonised the deep sea for many millions of years, there are more coral species living in the depths of our oceans than in the light-infused waters of our tropical coasts.
Two-thirds of all known coral species live in waters that are deep, dark, and cold - some live three miles deep and are able to survive in nearly freezing temperatures. It is estimated that the North Atlantic deep sea coral reefs date back to the last ice age, making them nearly 10,000 years old.
Some cold water corals are 5,000 to 8,500 years old and can grow into beautiful structures that rise up to 35 meters high.
Gorgonian corals also produce antibiotics and some corals are so close to human bone that they can be used for bone grafts. Also, compounds found in some deep sea sponges are potent immunosuppressive and anti-cancer agents.
Although scientists have only just begun to explore the ecological aspects of cold water corals, it is clear that cold water reefs are bustling with life, providing essential sanctuaries and nursing grounds for countless species. They provide protection from currents and predators and form essential hiding places for a variety of marine life.
Orange roughy (fish)
A slow growing fish that generally lives up to around 150 years old. Orange roughy reaches sexual maturity at 20 to 30 years.
These fish live in shoals and inhabit the deep waters of every ocean. High seas fleets have dramatically reduced orange roughy numbers as new fishing technologies provide access to deeper and more distant waters.
Originally, the fish was known as “slime head” but it was renamed the more marketable “orange roughy” to appeal to consumers. Today, orange roughy can be bought in fish markets around the world. Along with other deep sea fish species, orange roughy can even be bought online at Amazon.com.
Hatchetfish
Live between the deep sea and the surface. As camouflage from predators who would notice their silhouettes from below, the hatchetfish’s underbelly lights up, mimicking dim sunlight levels in the deep. This way they become invisible from below.
Lizardfish
Lizardfish are one of the smaller predators (20-30cm) living on seamounts and the deep sea floor. They eat other fish and invertebrates.
Hagfish
Hagfish are also known as the ‘snot eel’. When disturbed they produce large amounts mucous. They also eat dead and living animals from the inside out. There is debate about whether they are actually fish because they belong to a more primitive lineage than any other fish group.
Giant sea spiders
These bundles of legs live on the Tasmanian seamounts. They are gigantic and can grow as wide as 0.3 metres.
King crab
Many creatures that we know from the coastlines such as crabs also live in the deep-sea. The deep-sea king crab is a deep sea cousin of the shore crab and has been likened to a cactus when young - very sharp to touch.
As king crabs grow their spines become blunter from the rough and tumble in the deep sea. Adults can grow to 30cm across.
Mantis shrimp
By weight, some species of mantis shrimp rank among the most formidable animals on earth. The force from the strike of a large Californian species approaches that of a 22 calibre bullet and is capable of breaking double layered safety glass.
Giant squid
The giant squid (Architeuthis) is the largest invertebrate that has ever existed but no human has ever seen one alive in its habitat. Giant squid grow up to 21.3 metres and have eyes the size of dinner plates.
Whales
Some marine mammals such as sperm whales are regular visitors to the deep. They can dive down to depths of 3000 metres to feed on squid and fish. Sperm whales are known to especially concentrate around canyons and seamounts.
