16 Strange Mariana Trench Animals

Benthocodon
Benthocodon

Ever heard about Mariana Trench? It is a geological formation that is so enormous, so huge, and so imposing that, in comparison, it makes Mount Everest seem like a molehill. However, unlike Everest, it is almost imperceptible and will never be apparent to the untrained human eye. It is the Mariana Trench, a vastly deeper undersea chasm in the Earth’s crust that is five times longer than the Grand Canyon. We will discuss some of the Mariana trench animals.

The Mariana Trench has a maximum depth of 69 kilometers (43 miles) and a maximum breadth of 2,550 kilometers (1.580 miles). The greatest depth ever discovered is 10,984 meters or 36,037 feet. More than 1,071 times more than the average atmospheric pressure at sea level, the water pressure at the bottom of the trench is astonishing. Some of the most fascinating and unexpected species in the world can be found in this wonderful ecosystem. Below, are some of the Mariana trench animals,

Mariana Trench Animals

1. Dumbo Octopus

A genus of pelagic umbrella octopuses is known as the dumbo octopus, commonly referred to as grimpotheuthis. Due to the creature’s likeness to the character of Dumbo from the 1941 Disney film of the same name, the name was given to it. Although the Dumbo octopus was first identified in 1883, the first specimen was not observed until the 1990s, following the development of the first deep-sea submersible vessels.

In comparison to other octopods, the dumbo octopus is small, with an average length of 20 to 30 centimeters. Due to their gelatinous body, octopuses can live in the high-pressure environments they enjoy. If taken to the surface, its body would not be able to function properly because of the intense pressure that holds it together.

Also read: 10 Different Types Of Jellyfish In The World

Dumbo Octopus
Dumbo Octopus

Image Source: Wikimedia

2. Deep-sea Dragonfish

The deep-sea dragonfish is the antithesis of the dumbo octopus, which is one of the most innocent-appearing marine creatures. The dragonfish is an assassin of the unfathomably deep, with enormous teeth and a horrible face. Despite being a fish, it lacks scales and has a slimy, slippery skin that mimics an eel’s.

The 6-inch (15-centimeter) long dragonfish love to swim in the dark and chilly waters between 700 and 6,000 feet (213 and 1,828 meters) below the surface. This species, like many deep-water creatures, heavily depends on bioluminescent body parts, which use internal chemical processes to produce an unsettling glow.

Deep-sea Dragonfish
Deep-sea Dragonfish

Image Source: borneobulletin

3. Barreleye Fish

In the midnight zone of the ocean, light is a precious and scarce commodity. The difference between capturing a meal and becoming one depends on your ability to recognize even the smallest hint of sunlight. In order to benefit from shards of light, inhabitants of the trench, like the barreleye fish, adopt strange traits. How peculiar?

To begin with, the head of this fish is translucent. Two delicate barrel-shaped eyes located inside that head are most often directed upward, allowing the fish to view silhouettes of its prey. Scientists believe that the fish’s transparent head just makes it possible for it to catch a little bit more light, giving this unique creature a slight advantage over its rivals.

Barreleye Fish
Barreleye Fish

Image Source: Wikimedia

4. Seadevil Anglerfish

It’s a sure bet that a fish will be weird if it contains the word “devil” in its name. The seadevil anglerfish does not let you down; it has a long list of fascinatingly peculiar traits. It’s difficult not to begin with the sea devil’s appearance. With its malformed body, razor-like teeth, and icy death look, this fish could have swum up straight from hell, as its name strongly suggests. At least they aren’t enormous, despite their strange and unsettling appearance. Females often reach a maximum length of 8 inches (20 cm). At maybe an inch (2.5 centimeters) long, males are much smaller than females.

Seadevil Anglerfish
Seadevil Anglerfish

Image Source: Taxidermia abisal

5. Benthocodon

Sea organisms called jellyfish frequently wash up on coasts and block fishermen’s nets. However, the benthocodon is a peculiar species of jellyfish that loves a setting far out at sea at depths of more than 2,500 feet (762 meters), frequently right on the seafloor. These jellyfish are small and have a bell-shaped top. The bell has a usual diameter of between 0.7 and 1.2 inches (2 and 3 cm), and it is covered in 1,500 or more thin, crimson tentacles that it utilizes to move through the water. The benthocodon eats tiny unicellular animals called foraminiferans and crustaceans.

Benthocodon
Benthocodon

Image Source: NOAA Ocean Exploration

6. Goblin Shark

If you’ve ever watched the classic film “Aliens,” you’ve probably experienced dreams in which hairless, toothy creatures emerge from your chest and snap at your face. Imagine a shark swimming about in the deepest, darkest seas with a face exactly like that. That is the goblin shark, a beast with an apt name straight out of your wildest nightmares and hence listed as one of the coolest animals in the world.

Goblin sharks are one of the ugliest fishes in the world that have a snout that sticks out and resembles a sharp sword. A set of protruding jaws that seem mismatched for the shark’s face is located just below the snout as if evolution spun the wheel of ugly and the goblin shark was the worst loser. These sharks aren’t your regular grey color, though. Instead, their skin is a definite shade of pink.

Goblin Shark
Goblin Shark

8. Frilled Shark

Sharks with frills resemble mix-and-match specials from the clearance section of your neighborhood evolution convenience shop. They feature an eel-like spherical body and a head that is flat and looks right at home on top of a terrestrial dinosaur. That is somewhat appropriate given that this species has a long history dating back almost 80 million years, like many sharks. It is one of the amazing animals that start with letter f.

The shark is named from the six rows of frilly gills that adorn its body, which can reach a length of 6 feet (1.8 meters). Another striking feature is the shark’s more than 20 rows of ruthless, trident-shaped teeth, which will rip into any flesh that comes in contact with them.

Frilled Shark
Frilled Shark

8. Deep-sea Hatchetfish

There are numerous strange-looking fish in the sea, but few of them resemble hand tools used by humans. The deep-sea hatchetfish looks like a swimming hatchet made of silver. Hatchetfish are found in more than 40 different species. They all have absurdly thin bodies, and many also have gleaming scales, giving them a metallic, hatchet-like look. Even the largest species only reach lengths of roughly 6 inches (15 cm) due to their modest size. These fish can be found in depths of almost 5,000 feet, despite their delicate appearance.

Deep-sea Hatchetfish
Deep-sea Hatchetfish

Image Source: Wikimedia

9. Zombie Worms

Its name and feathery appearance make it seem like a plant from Dr. Seuss’s book. Its official name is the osedax. But this worm also goes by more aggressive names like “bone worm” or “zombie worm,” and it can eat the extremely hard bones of some of the largest animals on Earth, like whales. In order to gain access to the inside of those dead whale bones, the zombie worm secretes acids.

The proteins and fats in the bone are then transformed into nutrients by symbiotic bacteria, which the organism consumes as nourishment. To keep the worm alive, its feathery “branches” wiggle in the water and draw in oxygen.

Zombie Worms
Zombie Worms

Image Source: NBC News

10. Telescope Octopus

Telescope octopuses float and dangle in the lowest currents of Earth’s oceans like ghosts of the abyss. This octopus doesn’t wander about on the ocean floor as most others do. Instead of swimming horizontally, it suspends itself vertically in the water column at depths more than 6,500 feet (1,981 meters), maybe to obscure its shape from deeper predators.

If you were fortunate enough to encounter a telescopic octopus, you might question whether the underwater pressure is causing you to perceive certain things. Its body is almost transparently clear, and the delicate webbing between each of its eight tentacles gives this species a ghostly appearance.

Telescope Octopus
Telescope Octopus

Image Source: Wikimedia

11. Snailfishes

Snailfishes also known as sea snails are one of the Mariana trench animals that belong to the family of marine ray-finned fishes. These species make up the Liparidae, which is classified within the order Scorpaeniformes. The species is widely distributed from the Arctic to Antarctic Oceans, also in the oceans in between and there are more than 30 genera and about 410 described species are known till now.

Snailfishes
Snailfishes

Image Source: Wikimedia

12. Vampire Squid

The vampire squid is a type of small cephalopod vampire looking animal that can be seen in the temperate and tropical oceans around the world at a depth of between 2000 to 3000 feet at 2 to 3 degrees Celsius.  The specie was discovered at the beginning of the 20th century and is believed to have appeared on the planet 300 million years ago.  It can reach upto 12 inches in length and have 8 webbed arms where each arm is equipped with spines (called cirri) arranged in two rows.  The avarage lifespan of the vampire squid is unknown.

Vampire squid
Vampire squid

13. Sea cucumber

Sea cucumber is one of the Mariana Trench aquatic animals and belongs to the group of animals called echinoderms.  These are the animals without brains and are also the closest relative species of starfish and sea urchins. The size of the species will depend on the species where the smallest species can reach 0.12 inches, while the largest species can reach 3.3 feet in length.  The avarage size is between 3.9 to 12 inches long. The lifespan of the sea cucumber depends on the species and it’s between 5 to  10 years in the wild. It is also listed as one of the most popular land and water animals in the world.

Sea cucumber
Sea cucumber

14. Fangtooth

Fangtooth is one of the fish with big teeth that lives in the deep sea.  They live in the region known as “the midnight zone’ and have enormous, and protruding fangs. The primary diet includes smaller fish and crustaceans as well as much larger fish and even squids.  The fish species have the largest teeth proportionate to the body size of any fish in the ocean. The biggest threat of species includes Tuna, marlin, and small sharks. It can grow upto a length of 6 inches and is mostly seen in deep ocean waters.

Deep-sea Fangtooth
Deep-sea Fangtooth

15. Grenadiers

Grenadiers also known as rattails are large brown to black gadiform marine fish that belongs to the subfamily Macrourinae which is the largest subfamily of the family Macrouridae. They are seen at a depth from the Arctic to the Antarctic, and other members of the family are mostly seen in the deep ocean waters. Large heads categorize them with giant mouths and eyes.

Grenadiers
Grenadiers

Image Source: Wikimedia

16. Pectoral rattail

The Pectoral rattail also known as giant grenadier or giant rattail and the only member of the genus Albatrossia. They are mostly seen in the North Pacific from northern Japan to the Okhotsk and Bering Seas, east to the Gulf of Alaska, and south to northern Baja California in Mexico.  It can be seen at a depth of between 140 and 3,500 m. The body size can grow between up to 2.1 m in length and is known for its elongated, pointed tail of the rattails.

Pectoral rattail
Pectoral rattail

Image Source: Wikimedia

This is the list of terrifying Mariana trench animals. Kindly share and do post your comments.

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