It extends from 19,700 feet (6,000 meters) to the very bottom of the Mariana Trench at 36,070 feet (10,994 meters). The hadalpelagic is the very deepest part of the ocean that includes the ocean trenches. Tripod fish can pump fluid into their elongated fins to make them like rigid stilts. The bristlemouth fish alone may number at about a quadrillion, making them the most numerous family of vertebrates (animals with a backbone) in the world. About 90 percent of the world’s fish (by weight) live in the mesopelagic-about 10 billion tons of fish. Squid, krill, jellies, and fish are super abundant in this zone. Barely any light filters down to these depths, and yet still life thrives here. The area of the ocean between 650 and 3,300 feet (200-1,000 m) is called the mesopelagic. These locations venture into the hadalpelagic zone, places so deep only a handful of humans have ever traveled there so far. And finally, the deepest reaches of the ocean are found at the bottom of precipitous trenches. Travel deeper and you will find the abyssopelagic zone-the abyss. Animals create their own bioluminescent light and, if they haven’t lost them, have highly light-sensitive eyes to see the light produced by other animals. You can’t dive to the deep ocean on your own, of course, but scientists have a variety of sophisticated technologies to explore this vast frontier.īeginning with the bathypelagic zone, the ocean is completely void of light from the sun, moon and stars. Despite these harsh conditions, there is life-an astounding variety of creatures that will boggle your mind. The further we dive down from the surface, the less new food is available, making the fight to survive that much more challenging. At this depth, we’ve reached the average depth of the deep-sea floor, a place that may start to get a little muddy. By 13,000 feet (4,000 meters), the temperature hovers just below the temperature of your refridgerator. Any light still filtering down has diminished to appear completely black, leaving only animals and bacteria to produce the light found here. Dive deeper and the weight of the water above continues to accumulate to a massive crushing force. By 650 feet (200 m) all the light is gone to our eyes and the temperature has dropped dramatically. As you dive down through this vast living space you notice that light starts fading rapidly. But the deep sea remains largely unexplored. With thanks to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI).Below the ocean’s surface is a mysterious world that accounts for over 95 percent of Earth’s living space-it could hide 20 Washington Monuments stacked on top of each other. But for a fish with a highly extendable stomach, the lured in squid makes a satisfying meal. For a hunting squid with huge eyes, the glimmers are intriguing - they might just be food. These fish are called anglers because the fish use their lures much like a fly fisherman uses their imitation flies. It's not easy to see the purpose of one that's suspended on a long rod way below its owners terrifying teeth, but then this monster does have another giant flashing lure close to its mouth. There are all sorts of lures out in the darkness. The light is generated by bacteria that live permanently inside the fish's lures, and attracts prey to sets of murderous teeth. A deep sea angler fish flashes in the darkness. These flashing lights are generated by animals - this is bioluminescence. If you turn off the submersible headlights, you can see a pyrotechnic display in the deep sea. Even in the dark zone of the ocean there is some light.
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