The deep sea may just be the answer for those searching for bizarre creatures, regardless of the explanations for their origins. This year, marine biologists have captured astonishing footage of movements at the ocean floor, where “alien-like” species and other unique creatures are lurking.
Top 10 Strangest Deep-Sea Creatures According to Live Science.
Blood-Red Jellyfish
A completely new species of blood-red jellyfish, yet to be named, was discovered by researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) at a depth of about 700 meters, just off the coast of Newport, Rhode Island, USA.
Many deep-sea creatures have evolved to be red because red light wavelengths do not penetrate deep into the ocean. This means that red animals appear black and can evade large predators.
Glass Octopus
In 2021, researchers from the Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI) discovered a glass octopus (scientific name: Vitreledonella richardi) off the coast of the Phoenix Islands, over 5,100 km from Sydney, Australia.
Like other “glass” creatures, such as glass frogs and jellyfish, the glass octopus is nearly completely transparent, with only its cylindrical eyes, optic nerves, and digestive tract appearing in a cloudy color.
Shape-Shifting Whale
The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) released footage showing a strange female whale with bright orange coloration, belonging to the order Cetomimiformes, at a depth of about 2,013 meters off the coast of Monterey Bay, California, USA.
Very little information is available about this unusual whale species. What fascinates scientists is their shape during different growth stages and genders. They look so different that initially, researchers thought they were different species. The transformation from juvenile to adult female is considered one of the most extreme changes among any vertebrate species.
Dumbo Octopus
In May, researchers discovered a completely new species of Dumbo octopus (scientific name: Grimpteuthis imperator), nicknamed “Emperor Dumbo.”
It was accidentally pulled from the water in a net. Its tentacles and ear-like fins are oversized, resembling the ears of Dumbo the elephant from the famous Disney animated film.
Sponges and Starfish as “Best Friends”
A humorous photo of real-life counterparts of the cartoon characters SpongeBob Squarepants and Patrick Star was discovered side by side on the ocean floor.
This image features a square yellow sponge and a pink five-armed starfish, captured by ROV on July 27, at a depth of 1,885 meters during the Retriever Seamount expedition off the New England coast.
Alien-Like Squid
In November, NOAA scientists discovered a rare giant squid (belonging to the genus Magnapinna) during an expedition in the Gulf of Mexico.
This bizarre squid has a very unusual body with enormous, shimmering fins and strange elbow-like curves on its tentacles. This is considered highly atypical for a squid.
Giant Phantom Jellyfish
In November, MBARI released rare footage of the giant phantom jellyfish (scientific name: Stygiomedusa gigantea). It resembles a giant gray-black blob, with a bell about 3 meters wide and tentacles like giant ribbons, reaching up to 10 meters long.
Not much is known about the phantom jellyfish, but scientists believe they use their “arms” to trap prey and pull it to their mouths.
Purple-Backed Squid
The giant purple-backed squid (scientific name: Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis) was accidentally encountered by scientists while investigating a shipwreck in the Gulf of Aqaba.
It was found at a depth of about 850 meters, with a total body length of about 2 meters, nearly the maximum size for the species. The squid’s tail is dark black, thick, and fanned out like a fish’s tail.
Trail Marks on the Ocean Floor
A remarkable evidence of strange trails left by sponges as they crawl across the ocean floor in the Arctic was discovered in April. This is the first evidence of sponges crawling on the ocean floor, after researchers captured images of unusual brown marks left by these astonishing mobile creatures in the Arctic.
Barreleye Fish with a Transparent Head
Footage of a barreleye fish (scientific name: Macropinna microstoma) was recorded by MBARI scientists in the Monterey Submarine Canyon, at a depth of about 650 meters.
They live in the deep ocean, possessing a transparent head with two tube-shaped green eyes located on top. The eyes are surrounded by a transparent shield-like structure filled with fluid. Scientists have only discovered this species 9 times before.
