:: Deep-Sea animals - A Selection of the Best
Photos of deep-sea animals from the abyss, from the dumbo octopus to the anglerfish.

The photos below are a select few from our Deep-sea animals gallery - to view the complete collection please visit the Deep-sea Animal Gallery

	Deep-sea glass squid (Teuthowenia pellucida) A martian? No, it's the glass squid, Teuthowenia pellucida, an ecologically important Southern Hemisphere deep-sea squid. This species has light organs on its eyes and possesses the ability to roll into a ball, like an aquatic hedgehog. It is prey of many deep-sea fish (eg goblin sharks) as well as whales and oceanic seabirds. enlarge image
	Dumbo octopus (Grimpoteuthis) The dumbo octopus, Grimpoteuthis swims slowly above the seafloor, descending to the bottom to feed. enlarge image
	Fangtooth, or ogrefish (Anoplogaster cornuta) The fangtooth fish (Anoplogaster cornuta) is a ferocious deep-sea predator found in midwater to depths of about five kilometers (three miles). They are relatively muscular and probably chase down their prey. enlarge image
	Deep-sea Lizardfish (Bathysaurus mollis) The mouth of a large lizardfish; note the harpoon-tipped teeth. enlarge image
	Hagfish (Eptatretus cirrhatus) The hagfish, deep-sea scavenger extroardinaire. Among other things it can tie itself in knots and secretes a bucketload of thick mucus in just a few seconds. enlarge image
	Deep-sea amphipod (Eusirid Amphipod) This extraordinary eusirid amphipod, reptililian in appearance, was collected from a glass sponge growing 2.5 kilometres deep in the eastern Pacific. It was living near hydrothermal vents and measured about an inch. enlarge image
	Giant tubeworm (Riftia pachyptila) Two species of giant tubeworm together: Riftia pachyptila in the foreground and Tevnia jerichonana in the background. Both species coexist at deep-sea hydrothermal vents. enlarge image
	Hydrothermal vent eelpout fish (Thermarces cerberus) Eelpout (Thermarces cerberus) on hydrothermal vent mussels (Bathymodiolus) these deep-sea fish are specialised to live in hydrothermal vent communities, and prey mainly upon vent crustaceans, such as amphipods and crabs. enlarge image
	Deep-sea giant sea spider (Colossendeis) A giant deep-sea spider, Colossendeis, photographed on top of basalt rubble from the Pacific's mid-ocean ridge off Central America. enlarge image
	Hydrothermal vent crab (Bythograea thermydron) A large adult hydrothermal vent crab, Bythograea thermydron, clambers over volcanic basalt. enlarge image
	Deep-sea bamboo coral (Acanella) Bamboo coral is found in all the world's deep oceans. They are strongly bioluminescent, emitting waves of blue light along their branches. enlarge image
	Hydrothermal vent mussel (Bathymodiolus) The vent mussel community: brittle stars, worms and limpets carpet the outside of vent mussel (Bathymodiolus) shells living near a hydrothermal vent. enlarge image
	Hydrothermal vent scaleworm A hydrothermal vent scale worm found living among giant tubeworms and mussels. A diverse fauna of polynoid worms inhabit hydrothermal vents, some thriving in hot water near the tips of black smokers. enlarge image
	Giant tubeworm (Tevnia jerichonana) Tevnia is a large and attractive giant tubeworm that lives at hydrothermal vents. Like its relative Riftia, it relies on symbiotic bacteria for sustenance enlarge image