We’re used to seeing land-roaming animals and we’re used to seeing birds flying in the sky. But there’s an entire world of creatures living and thriving below sea level. So far, we know about almost 230,000 sea species and are still sure that there are a lot more out there. Every year, new discoveries add to our amusement. These sea creatures have a distinctive color and their body structure makes them look like something from a cartoon or a fantasy movie.
Nauticalnatives compiled a selection of 23 sea creatures that are sure to mesmerize you with their appearance.
1. Sea Angel
These are swimming sea plugs usually found in large groups. These have been discovered in all kinds of climatic conditions including polar regions, under sea ice, and in equatorial tropic seas.
2. Elysia chlorotica
It is a small to medium-sized species of sea slug known as marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusk. They are a “solar-powered sea slug” which means it utilizes solar energy via chloroplasts from its algal food.
3. Australian ghost shark
It is a kind of cartilaginous fish, belonging to the Holocephali family. It is found in southern Australia, Tasmania, and on the south of East Cape and Kaipara Harbour in New Zealand. It is generally found at depths of 0 m to 200 m (0 ft to 656 ft).
4. Furry sea slugs
They look cute, but that covering on their body is not just a furry coat — they are small rods known as caryophyllidia. They have shorter life spans from a few months to a year.
5. Deep-sea octopus
These dozens of octopuses were found deep inside over a rocky patch of sea, while geochemists were exploring and collecting samples of warm fluids emerging from the cracks in the volcanic rocks. These octopuses belonged to genus Muusoctopus, that were pink, plate-sized creatures with enormous eyes.
6. A green-eyed crab
It has not yet been determined why it has green eyes. All we know so far about this new species is that these hermit crabs use another creature’s shells as their home. These were found at 650 ft and 900 ft below the surface.
7. A transparent frog
The transparent frog is just 0.8 in long and it has a glass body. They are a part of the Ecuadorean Amazon.
8. Baby squid
This purple baby squid was discovered by the E/V Nautilus team off the coast of California. It is said to be related to cuttlefish and is generally found in the Pacific Ocean.
9. Blue dragon-glaucus atlanticus
As beautiful as it looks, it is also extremely deadly. These were found on the shores of Australia. They feed on poisonous jellyfish and then absorb it to use it back through their stinger.
10. Leafy sea dragon
The leafy sea dragon is the only member of the genus Phycodurus. Its leafy body structure works as a camouflage for him. It is generally found along the southern and western coasts of Australia.
11. Halitrephes Jelly
These are the species of deep-sea hydrozoan of the family Halicreatidae. They were found at a depth of 4,000-5,000 ft near the Revillagigedo Archipelago off of Baja California, Mexico.
12. Sea Pen (Merisulat)
Sea pens are found in tropical and temperate waters and at the depths of over 6,100 m. They generally group with the octocorals and with sea whips or gorgonians.
13. Mantis shrimp
Mantis shrimp grow up to 10 cm in length. The longest recorded so far was 38 cm. These have been declared as the most important predators in many shallow, tropical, and sub-tropical marine habitats.
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