Creatures of the  Deep  Sea

Introduction
Fish
Sharks and Mammals
Eels
Conclusion


Introduction

Going down into the deep ocean is a fascinating sight. With the lights on, you see nothing except for an occasional weird creature. When you turn the lights off, there are hundreds of lights flashing around you. There are plains, deep trenches, and mountains that make it seem much like land, except there no plants. More people have been to the moon than have been to the depths of the ocean. Every time someone goes down to the bottom of the ocean, they find a new species. In this report, you will learn about some of these bizarre creatures.

Back to Top



Fish


Dragon fish

The Dragon fish is a small, fierce predator. It only grows to be about 6 inches long, and it has many long and sharp needle like teeth. The Dragon fish has a barbel with a light producing organ at the end that it uses to attract prey. The ability to produce light is called bioluminescence. When a curious fish wanders too close, it is snatched by the Dragon fish. This fish  lives at depths of 5,000 feet.

Dragonfish

Back to Top


 Lantern fish

The lantern fish has many light producing organs that gives it it's name. These organs are used to attract prey and mates. Lantern fish only grow to be about 6 inches long. It spends  it's time at  depths up to 3,000 feet. At night, it comes up to the surface to feed on other small fish.

lanternfish

Back to Top

 
Hatchet fish

The Hatchet fish  is a small fish that resembles a hatchet. It only grows to be about four inches long and has eyes that face upward that allows it to look for prey falling from above. The Hatchet fish feeds on copepods and corpses falling from above.  Hatchetfish llive at depths of 4,500 feet all over the world. They also have light producing organs at the bottom of their body. It is believed that they use these lights to attract prey from below and mates.

  Hatchetfish

Back to Top


Mammals and Squid

  
Sperm Whale:

The Sperm Whale is the Largest of the toothed sea mammals. The Sperm Whale has an oily fat in it's head called spermaceti, hence comes the name. As with all mammals, they need to breath air, but the Sperm Whale can stay underwater  for over two hours before coming up for air. The Sperm Whale eats different types of fish and eels, but its favorite food is the giant squid. The Sperm Whale can dive to a depth of 10,000 feet to search for squid. It can grow to be 65 feet long.

whale

Back to Top
   
Firefly Squid:

The Firefly Squid is a small squid that has light producing organs called photophores at the end of their tentacles. They attract small fish by flashing their lights on and off. Then, they pounce on their prey with its muscular tentacles. During the day, this squid swims at depths of 1,200 feet, but when night comes, it comes to the surface to hunt for food. Every year, during spawning seasons many can be seen close to shore, especially in the Toyoma Bay of Japan. Toyama Bay has a current that flows upward that brings the Firefly Squid to the Surface. Firefly Squids only live about one year.

squid

Back to Top


Eels

 Gulper Eel:

The gulper eel can easily be recognised by its huge mouth. It can be opened wide enough to swallow prey much larger than it self. The victim is then deposited into the Gulper's pelican-like lower jaw. The Gulper Eel's stomach can be stretched in order to accommodate it's prey. This gives the Gulper Eel  the nick names pelican eel and umbrella gulper. The Gulper Eel can grow to be about six feet long. This eel can be at depths from 3,000 to 6,000 feet deep.

Gulper

Back to Top

Conclusion

I hope now, after you have read my work on the deep sea, you understand a little more about deep sea creatures.


Bibliography

http://www.mysteries-megasite.com
The Blue Planet, Seas of Life, the Deep Ocean, BBC Discovery Channel production, DVD
www.seasky.org

Back to Top

Back to Top
Back to Home Page

Created:April 17, 2004
Last Updated: May 14, 2004
Web Master Email: