#CuteFishOfTumblr

[mbari-blog]

Introducing our newest unofficial video series—#CuteFishesOfTumblr 😍

The owlfish, named for its large eyes relative to its head, lives throughout the North Pacific. Species in the family Bathylagidae, also known as blacksmelts, are relatively common in the deep sea, living at depths of over 6,000 meters (19,685 feet). Here in the Monterey Bay, we observe these fish between a few hundred meters to over 2,000 meters (6,562 feet).

[mbari-blog]

Did you catch these cuties in our latest Deep Relaxocean video?

This black roughtail skate (Bathyraja trachura) is just one of the amazing animals featured in our latest episode. Skates are related to sharks. They have a distinct, flattened body, and they swim and glide using a pair of large, wing-like fins.

We often encounter skates resting on the sediment like this. Along with their expanded, muscular pectoral fins, some skates use their pelvic fins to maneuver while hunting along the bottom or to propel themselves off the seafloor when danger approaches.

Head over to our Animals of the Deep gallery and learn more about these spectacular skates.

[mbari-blog]

Twinkle twinkle little fish 🌟⁠

The dollar hatchetfish (Sternoptyx diaphana) is about the size of a quarter. These tiny magicians can be found between 400 and 3,675 meters deep (1,312 to 12,057 feet). Light-producing organs in rows along their bellies help these little fish perform a deep-sea disappearing act. ⁠ ⁠ Known as counterillumination, this adaptation allows the fish to match the daylight filtering from surface waters above and effectively hides the animal from predators that may be lurking below. Each species has a unique pattern of lights, and individuals can adapt their lights to whatever color is filtering down from the light above.

[mbari-blog]

Meet your new favorite #CuteFishOfTumblr—Spunky

The giant cusk-eel (Spectrunculus grandis) is one of the largest bony fishes in the deep abyss. Sometimes called “swimming noses,” these fish rely on their large olfactory organs to sniff out their next meal.

They are not picky eaters—a hungry Spectrunculus will dine on a variety of bottom-dwelling invertebrates like crustaceans, worms, and sea stars or just as happily nibble on decomposing carcasses.

In the deep sea, food can seem scarce unless you know where to look. Poop, snot, dead plankton, and larger animal carcasses sinking from the ocean’s surface provide a tasty treat for seafloor scavengers. To find a feast in the vast abyss, it helps to follow your nose. Spectrunculus is just one of the many magnificent animals that thrive on the abyssal seafloor.

As society looks to the deep sea for mining rare minerals such as cobalt and nickel, understanding the importance of this spectacular species and other abyssal animals has become especially urgent. Our research is revealing how human actions will affect deep-sea communities. We are providing the information policymakers need to guide their decision-making about the ocean, its inhabitants, and its resources.

Next time you think about the ocean, remember these charming and curious deep-sea neighbors roaming the seafloor. Learn more about this and other fascinating animals of the deep in our Animals of the Deep gallery.

[mbari-blog]

undefined

Anyone else feeling a serious squee overload with this cutie?⁠ 🥰

This is the bigtail snailfish, Osteodiscus cascadiae. Typically found in deep waters from 1,900 to 3,000 meters (6,200 to 9,800 feet), these little snailfish only grow up to 8.5 centimeters (about three inches). ⁠⁠These scaleless fishes are well-adapted to a variety of habitats, including rocky outcrops, the muddy seafloor, and even the midwater. They play an important role as prey and predator in many ecosystems. Most snailfish species are small and feed on tiny invertebrates, but larger species may prey upon other fishes. MBARI has observed over a dozen species of snailfish in the past 34 years of exploration. We suspect there are dozens more out there waiting to be discovered.⁠⁠