Hiding among a prickly pile of sea urchins, this little red octopus, Octopus rubescens makes a valiant attempt at grabbing its next meal—a wandering spot prawn. These clever cephalopods can change their color and texture to match their surroundings. Their typical diet ranges from small crabs and other crustaceans to mollusks and fishes.
MBARI’s remotely operated vehicles reveal astonishing interactions like these. We are building a baseline understanding of the deep sea that will be critical in determining how climate change, pollution, and mining will affect communities in the largest living space on Earth.
#tfw you keep swimming but don't really go anywhere 🙃
Our remotely operated vehicles often spot these curious fish just above the seafloor in the bathyal and abyssal zones (200–4,000 meters or 600–13,100 feet) where they dine on fishes, invertebrates, and scavenged carrion (you know, dead stuff).
They use large eyes to reveal prey, like fishes and squid, darting in the waters above the seafloor. A rattail relies on other senses, like smell and touch, to find a meal too. Their nose is particularly good at finding rotting animals, and the sensitive barbels on their chin detect small crustaceans or worms wiggling in the mud below. Learn more about these fantastic fishes on our website.