Weird Creatures Found in Deep Sea in 2021
Elusive glass octopus
A video of an elusive glass octopus off the coast of the Phoenix Islands has been released by the Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI). With the exception of its cylindrical eyes, optic nerve, and digestive tract, glass octopuses, like glass frogs and certain comb jellies, are nearly completely transparent.
Blood-red jellyfish
Researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) spotted a jellyfish in film from a deep-water dive conducted on July 28 off the coast of Newport, Rhode Island. In the North Atlantic Ocean, the agency’s remotely operated vehicle (ROV), Deep Discoverer, dived to a depth of roughly 3,000 feet (915 meters).
Emperor Dumbo
In May biologists discovered a totally new species of Dumbo octopus called “Emperor Dumbo”. During an expedition to the Aleutian Islands in the Bering Sea in 2016, researchers accidentally dragged the cute creature to the surface in a net. The umbrella-like webbing that connects their tentacles and their cartoon-type ear-like fins that resemble Disney’s renowned elephant’s huge ears distinguish Dumbo octopus species.
Shape-shifting whalefish
The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) released a video of a bright orange about 6,600 feet (2,013 meters) underwater off the coast of Monterey Bay, California, in August. Scientists know very little about this whalefish. Scientists have initially mistaken the three varieties for three different species since they are so dissimilar. The change of adolescent to mature females is one of the most dramatic among animals.
Alien-like spindly squid
During an expedition in the Gulf of Mexico in November, NOAA scientists used an ROV to spot a bigfin squid. It has large, iridescent fins and weird elbow-like bends in its tentacles. The phantom squid has an unusual body plan. “Their arms and tentacles all have this lengthy, spaghetti-like extension.
Real-life SpongeBob and Patrick
NOAA in August discovered the real-life SpongeBob and Patrick. They took an image of a yellow sponge and a five-pointed pink sea star at the coast of New England on July 27. The depth was 6185 feet.
Photobombing squid.
Researchers at the seafloor of the Red Sea’s Gulf of Aqaba uncovered a recent shipwreck from 2011. A purple-black flying squid photobombed the team while recording the wreckage of the ship. They discovered a shipwreck at the depth of 2788 feet with a squid. Experts believe it was a single squid, although there could have been more.
Giant phantom jellyfish
MBARI released rare video footage of a huge ghost jellyfish in November. Scientists discovered the gigantic jelly. It has a 3.3-foot-wide (1 m) bell and 33-foot-long (10 m) ribbon-like arms. It was found at the depth of 3,200 feet (975 m) in Monterey Bay, California.
