The Ocean Depths
At first, all you see is darkness.
Pitch black darkness.
Then, a flicker of light. And another one. And another one.
Soon enough, the darkness is filled with these lights, flashing on and off, perfectly synchronized. Each is a different size; some smaller than a nail, others the size of your palm. These lights come from tiny bioluminescent creatures, somehow surviving the astonishing pressures of the deep sea. There is no sunlight here. You must rely completely on these glowing specks to guide you through this journey. On the sea floor, there are red-hot cracks, bursting with lava. Bright red tube worms grow beside hydrothermal vents. The vents are steaming black, indicating the presence of an active volcano. In these hostile environments, the only thing more bizarre than the scenery is the life. Blobfish awkwardly waddle across the sea floor. Yeti crabs scuttle about, culturing bacteria on their hairy arms. Gulper eels wiggle majestically, showing off their magnificent jaws. Barrelfish only care to look above, their eyes fixated in a way such that they can see through the tops of their transparent heads. Perhaps you'll glance at the occasional sperm whale, looking to hunt its nemesis, the colossal squid. Any carcass from above floats down here, and the hagfish prepare for a treat. Anglerfish arrange for their own feast, their lures enticing nearby fish. Dragonfish are the fireworks of the deep, chemistry coursing through their veins as they produce a beautiful light show. Do not be fooled by their appearances, though, as they are the most ferocious predators of the deep. Vampire squids propel past with their unique webbed tentacles, almost like a vampire's cape.
Then you'll wonder: How is it such a paradise exists in this hostile condition?
As the iridescent jellyfish float by, and the tiny dumbo octopuses come out to play, you'll notice a whole new planet.
The planet of the abyss.
Image Credits: https://www.flickr.com/photos/papahanaumokuakea/36282807302
Pitch black darkness.
Then, a flicker of light. And another one. And another one.
Soon enough, the darkness is filled with these lights, flashing on and off, perfectly synchronized. Each is a different size; some smaller than a nail, others the size of your palm. These lights come from tiny bioluminescent creatures, somehow surviving the astonishing pressures of the deep sea. There is no sunlight here. You must rely completely on these glowing specks to guide you through this journey. On the sea floor, there are red-hot cracks, bursting with lava. Bright red tube worms grow beside hydrothermal vents. The vents are steaming black, indicating the presence of an active volcano. In these hostile environments, the only thing more bizarre than the scenery is the life. Blobfish awkwardly waddle across the sea floor. Yeti crabs scuttle about, culturing bacteria on their hairy arms. Gulper eels wiggle majestically, showing off their magnificent jaws. Barrelfish only care to look above, their eyes fixated in a way such that they can see through the tops of their transparent heads. Perhaps you'll glance at the occasional sperm whale, looking to hunt its nemesis, the colossal squid. Any carcass from above floats down here, and the hagfish prepare for a treat. Anglerfish arrange for their own feast, their lures enticing nearby fish. Dragonfish are the fireworks of the deep, chemistry coursing through their veins as they produce a beautiful light show. Do not be fooled by their appearances, though, as they are the most ferocious predators of the deep. Vampire squids propel past with their unique webbed tentacles, almost like a vampire's cape.
Then you'll wonder: How is it such a paradise exists in this hostile condition?
As the iridescent jellyfish float by, and the tiny dumbo octopuses come out to play, you'll notice a whole new planet.
The planet of the abyss.
Image Credits: https://www.flickr.com/photos/papahanaumokuakea/36282807302
Wow. You took me on a travel through the deep ocean and its fantastic and hardly ever heard creature's names. I thoroughly enjoyed your marvelous understand of the bottom of ocean creatures. Good writing.
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