Barrel amphipod
The midwater is a vast expanse of water between the surface and the seafloor.
Common siphonophore
The common siphonophore is a sit-and-wait predator that casts stinging tentacles to capture krill and other plankton.
Deep-sea squid
The deep-sea squid (Bathyteuthis sp.) is unusual among squids. Instead of laying egg cases on the seafloor or releasing a drifting egg mass, females brood their developing offspring.
Balloon worm
The balloon worm drifts through the midwater, casting a mucous net to feed on tiny bits of food slowly sinking from above.
Dragonfish
Dragonfishes are cunning predators that lie in wait to ambush unsuspecting prey.
Deep-sea crown jelly
The deep-sea crown jelly (Atolla sp.) is one of the most common jellies in the ocean’s midnight zone and has unique adaptations to survive where food is scarce and predators are plentiful.
Strawberry squid
The strawberry squid has one big eye and one small eye. Together, this improbable pair helps the squid hunt for food in the ocean’s twilight zone.
Psychedelic jelly
Meet one of the most colorful residents of the ocean’s midnight zone. That remarkable coloration tipped off scientists that they had found a new species.
Giant phantom jelly
This ghostly giant is a rare sight. In thousands of dives, MBARI researchers have only seen the spectacular Stygiomedusa nine times.
Whalefish
A whalefish lives in a world without sunlight. This rarely seen deep-sea fish relies on a network of pores to feel vibrations in the water and sense its surroundings.