#deepsea

A little lantern for the deep. ❤️🏮⁠

Colossal Squid

Eye spy some incredible adaptations 👀

Hyperiid amphipods are a small but anatomically diverse group of shrimp-like crustaceans with remarkable adaptations for life in the ocean’s twilight zone.

A team of researchers from MBARI, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, GEOMAR, the University of Western Australia, and the Florida Museum of Natural History leveraged 30 years of video observations from MBARI’s robotic submersibles to study the evolution of eye complexity in hyperiid amphipods. The team recently published their findings in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 📸: Karen J. Osborn/Smithsonian Institution

Hyperiid amphipods are abundant in the midwater environment. Recognizing the true abundance of free-swimming, predatory species requires scientists to reconsider the ecological role of hyperiids in midwater communities. This innovative research underscores the value of direct observations for uncovering evolutionary and ecological processes in the largest living space on Earth. 📸: Karen J. Osborn/Smithsonian Institution

An expert hunter with a sensational smile ✨ 🦷💙

Pacific viperfish (Chauliodus macouni) may look intimidating, but those dramatic teeth are perfectly suited for life in the deep sea. They are among the countless marine animals that migrate each night from the ocean’s depths towards shallower surface waters to dine on small fishes and shrimp before returning to the depths.

Their long, needle-like teeth help them grip slippery prey, while their hinged jaws open wide enough to catch a meal that might otherwise escape. A row of tiny light-producing organs along their belly also helps them blend into the faint light filtering down from above, making them harder for predators and prey to spot.

Artificial intelligence is opening a new chapter in oceanographic research 🌊 With AI, scientists can process huge amounts of ocean data, identify marine species, monitor climate changes, and explore deep-sea environments with greater speed and accuracy.

Just a pink poof looking for snacks 💕

A little deep-sea sparkle ✨

Bloody-belly comb jellies are ctenophores. Like other comb jellies, they swim by beating rows of tiny, hair-like cilia. The shimmering display in this video isn't bioluminescence—it's light from MBARI's ROV diffracting through those transparent cilia, creating a dazzling rainbow effect.

Chains Megastic: A Titan Forged in the Depths

Ephemeral Majesty: Chains Megastic The Chains Megastic, with its imposing size and unique bioluminescence, captivates us with its raw power and otherw...