Talking about the ocean is not only taking about the living beings or animals that we usually see. It also talk about the animals that maybe we never knew the existence before.
This animals is the ocean animal that live in the deepest part of the ocean. Since it lives in the deepest part, surely their live is rarely being exposed.
Unlike the ocean animal that live in the upper part of the ocean that we know, these animals also have some characteristics of deep ocean animals.
Because only a little is known about these animals so here are some information that I can share you with that is hopefully can help you to know the animals that live in the deep ocean level.
See also: Types of Ocean Habitats – Destruction of Ocean Habitat
1. Bioluminescence ability
If you are asking what is bioluminescence ability, basically bioluminescence is the ability of animal to produce light through chemical reaction process. This ability is owned by animals in the deep ocean ecosystems since in the deepest part of the ocean there is no sunlight, then this ability will be useful to help the animal in the deep ocean to see.
2. Long life span
Besides that, the animals that live in the deep part of the ocean mostly will have a long life span. The environment or ecosystem in the deep ocean is more stable compared to the upper area of the ocean. This has become one factor that support the life of ocean marine who lives in the deep ocean.
3. Camouflage ability
In the deep ocean, almost all animals are having this transparent body which makes them able to camouflage. With this ability, the animals in the deep ocean will be easier to catch their prey.
4. Has a big size
Another characteristics of deep ocean animals is that they can have a really big size. Even though many of them that has a small size but they can also have a really big size. This ability is called as gigantism. The gigantism condition is possible because their body has less proteins and more water which enable them to swim and grow enormously.
See also: Biggest Fish in Amazon
5. Feeds on others or act as a water filter
Since there are not so many food in the deep ocean, moreover plants since there is no sunlight, deep ocean animals feeds on another or act as a water filter. They act as a water filter from the nutrient that is falling from the upper part of the ocean to the bottom since there are not so many food there.
See also: Importance of Marine Phytoplankton – Functions of the Phytoplankton in Ocean Ecosystem
6. Not a good swimmer
Since the body of deep ocean animals contain less proteins and more water, this make them become a bad swimmer. They can swim but not as fast as the animals in the upper part of the ocean. Since swimming and moving your body will require more energy and proteins.
7. Blind
Another facts is that mostly, the animals in the deep ocean are blind. So in order to know their predators or their prey, they will use the other senses aside their vision.
8. Some species was born in the shallow water
Even in the end these deep ocean animals will live in the deepest part of the ocean but some of them were born in the shallow area. This is become another characteristics of deep ocean animals. And when they grow up, they will go and live in the deep ocean.
9. Nocturnal
Most of the deep ocean animal is classified as nocturnal animal. Having a transparent body and trying to look for food will be easier for them to do it at night. During the days if they are going up to follow zooplankton as their prey, they will mostly hide.
10. Large eyes
Because of the condition in the deep ocean that is so dark because there is no sunlight, this lead the deep ocean animal to have a large eyes. Larger eyes will help those who has vision can see better. One deep ocean species known as the Colossal Squid has the biggest eyes compared to any animal.
11. Sharp teeth
The deep ocean animal also has sharp teeth which enable them to ripped their prey. Since they are a slow swimmer, having a sharp teeth such as viperfish will benefit them to eat their prey.
See also: Facts of Sharks
12. Weird shape
Another characteristics of deep ocean animals that you surely know is that the animal beneath the deep ocean has a weird shape. Even it is the same shark or squid but some of them has a really weird shape. Their weird shape is somehow being affected by the environment where they are being forced to adapt with the condition of the deep ocean.
13. No eyes
Even some species in the deep ocean have no eyes. This may due to the condition of the deep ocean that will make animal who can’t produce light will be useless to have visions. One of the animal that has no eyes is Yeti Crab. To help it survive, it will use another senses to sense everything surround it.
See also: Types of Ocean Crabs
14. Flexible and Soft Skeleton
Most of the animal in the deep ocean will have this flexible and soft skeleton. Due to the scarce resources, the animal won’t get proper nutrition that can help them to have a strong and hard skeleton.
This also become the reasons why they are not a good swimmer since their body have less protein compared to the animal in the supper part of the ocean or even compared to the animal in the land. By having flexible and soft skeleton, the deep ocean animal also able to move without needing a huge energy to be spent.
See also: Uses of Sponges in the Ocean
15. Cannot close their mouth
If you see the deep ocean animals that has so many small, long, and sharp teeth just like angler fish. Because of it has so many sharp teeth that also has a long size, it won’t be able to close its mouth perfectly. But even if so, it help the fish to consume its prey better.
See also: Types of Ocean Predators – Animals in The Ocean Biome
16. Having rare sense
One characteristics of deep ocean animals that differentiate it from another animals is that the deep ocean animal has a rare sense. This rare sense is known as lateral lines.
The lateral lines is an organ that helps the deep ocean animal to sense the movement beneath the water. The only animal that is having this rare sense known as the lateral lines organ is only the animal that is living in the deep ocean.
17. They don’t eat everyday
Because of the scarce food resource in the deep ocean, animal that live in the deep ocean is not eating food everyday like us or any other animal. But even if so, they won’t easily get sick because of the ability to adapt that has been developed.
Every deep ocean animal has develop their stomach and digestion system to be stronger. Surely if the same thing or condition happen towards the animal in the upper part of the ocean or toward the animal that lives in the land, this will be a problem.
See also: importance of marine food chain
So those are the characteristics of deep ocean animals that I can share you with. Maybe there are only few information, but hopefully these information can help you to at least know better about the deep ocean animal.
And surely there are more characteristic of the sea animal that I don’t mention here but hopefully this can be a good introduction for you to know the deep ocean animal better.
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