Beauty Under the Waves

Pleurobranchaea californica, also known as California sea owls, spend their days cruising the seafloor in search of a meal. Their diet consists of anemones, squids, worms, and other sea slugs. They’re not picky eaters!⁠ ⁠ This species is typically found from the surface to 1,830 meters (6,000 feet) deep. This fabulous floof was observed at 404 meters (1,325 feet).

Ochre Sea Star - Haystack Rock, OR

Blue Cave Location: Okinawa, Japan

Have had a couple sightings of the red-tipped sea goddess nudibranch as of late!

🙂

Squids are unique among cephalopods in their tendency to aggregate in shoals for purposes other than mating! Humboldt squid are the most infamous for their pack-like hunting coordination, but these Caribbean reef squid shoal likely for defensive reasons! In complex groupings of mixed age groups and sex, it's very interesting to watch as they communicate with their skin patterns and postures - often unique across different parts of their bodies facing different neighboring individuals!

See him shmoove

Filhotes, sempre curiosos 🥰

~ Marianas Trench ~

Catsharks are bottom feeders and are most active at night, often sleeping in groups during the day and hunting at night.

Galiteuthis phyllura, also known as the cockatoo squid, lives in the North Pacific from 200 to over 1,000 meters (660 to 3,280 feet) deep. This species has a transparent body and photophores, or light organs, under their eyes. We often encounter them hanging horizontally in the water column with their arms raised above their heads.