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Habitat: Midwater

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.

Deep-sea anglerfish

The anglerfish is one of the most famous deep-sea animals, with a bioluminescent “fishing pole” projecting from its head to lure prey.