The ocean floor is a hiding place for the most bizarre creatures on the planet. Here is a list of the 9 strangest deep-sea creatures found in 2021, according to Live Science.
1. Jellyfish as red as blood
Jellyfish with a disc-shaped body and a beautiful red color.
Researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) discovered the new jellyfish along with several other previously unknown creatures during a 2021 North Atlantic expedition. The expedition lasted from June 30 to July 29.
The newly identified jellyfish belongs to the genus Poralia - which includes jellyfish with a bell-shaped head, up to 30 tentacles and is one of the most fragile creatures.
2. Glass Octopus
Researchers from the Schmidt Ocean Institute have discovered a glass octopus (Vitreledonella richardi) in the deep waters of the Pacific Ocean.
Also in August, researchers from the Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI) released footage of a glass octopus (Vitreledonella richardi) off the remote Phoenix Islands, 5,100 kilometers from the Australian city of Sydney. northeast.
Like other glass creatures, such as the glass frog and comb jellyfish, the glass octopus is almost completely transparent, with only the eyes, optic nerve, and digestive tract visible.
3. Shapeshifting Whale
A close-up of a mysterious whale that can change its body shape throughout its life cycle.
In August, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) released footage showing a bright orange female whale swimming at a depth of about 2,013 meters, off the coast of Monterey Bay, California.
The fish belongs to the order Cetomimiformes, which is one of the rare 18 times scientists of the Research Institute have encountered this species during 34 years of deep-sea exploration.
4. Octopus Dumbo
In May, researchers reported finding a brand new type of Dumbo octopus. They nicknamed the new species Emperor Dumbo.
The researchers discovered this adorable creature when they accidentally pulled it to the surface with a net, during an expedition to the Aleutian Islands in the Bering Sea.
5. The mischievous sponge in real life
SpongeBob and Patrick in real life together under the sea.
In August of this year, NOAA shared a funny photo of the real-life version of the two best friends in the popular animated movie "mischievous sponge".
The image of a square yellow sponge and a pink five-pointed sea star was taken on July 27 at a depth of 1,885m, during an expedition off the coast of New England, USA.
6. Alien squid
Các nhà khoa học NOAA đã ghi lại được hình ảnh về loài mực vây lớn quý hiếm ở Vịnh Mexico.
NOAA scientists in November discovered a rare large-fin squid (genus Mangapinna) during a deep-sea expedition in the Gulf of Mexico.
The ghost squid has a very strange body with huge, iridescent fins and tentacles that bend like elbows.
To date, there have been less than 20 confirmed sightings of the squid since it was first discovered in 1998.
7. Giant ghost jellyfish
The ghost jellyfish looks quite mysterious and scary.
MBARI scientists discovered a giant ghost jellyfish at a depth of about 975m in Monterey Bay, California, USA.
The first giant ghost jellyfish was discovered in 1899, MBARI said. Since then, scientists have only seen the creature about 10 times. Although rarely discovered, this jellyfish has been found in the depths of every ocean in the world, except for the Arctic Ocean.
8. Ghost ink
Squid swims in the Gulf of Aqaba.
In October, researchers were trying to map the seafloor of the Gulf of Aqaba in the Red Sea when they were shocked to discover a shipwreck. While the team filmed the wreck, a squid kept swimming back and forth in front of the camera.
The shipwreck and the squid were found at a depth of about 850m. Scientists from OceanX think it's a ghost squid, also known as a snake squid. This squid has the English name purpleback flying squid and the scientific name is Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis.
9. Weird "alien" fish
Marine biologists have discovered barreleye fish off the coast of the United States.
In December of this year, MBARI researchers caught a barreleye fish (Macropinna microstoma) at a depth of about 650m in the Monterey Underground Canyon - one of the deepest underground canyons in the Pacific Ocean. In particular, MBARI scientists have only discovered this species 9 times before, despite having completed more than 5,600 dives in this fish's habitat.
The remarkable difference of this strange and rare fish is that there are two small indentations in the place where the two eyes of other fish are usually located. The barreleye's true eyes are two glowing blue spheres at the top of the head. With specially positioned eyes, this peculiar deep-sea creature can observe the waters above for food.
