:: Deep-Sea Invertebrates - A Selection of the Best
The deep ocean is home to a remarkable diversity of deepwater invertebrates: among them the deep-sea coral, sea spider, deep-sea barnacle, glass sponge, deep-sea worm, sea cucumber, and squat lobster.

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

	Deep-sea pram bug (Phronima sedentaria) Snug as a bug in a rug - this pram bug is secure in its hollowed-out salp home. One curious feature, visible in this photograph, is that the rear two pairs of the pram bug's legs bend backwards, enabling the animal to hold itself in place within the salp. enlarge image
	Deep-sea sea cucumber (Not available) A deep-sea sea cucumber living 2.5 kilometres deep on the East Pacific Rise. enlarge image
	Hydrothermal vent barnacle (Neolepas) Stalked barnacles, Neolepas, are among the common organisms found at hydrothermal vents throughout the world. enlarge image
	Deep-sea coral thicket (Not available) Part of a coral thicket made mostly of Goniocorella dumosa. Such corals are frequent bycatch when fishing for deep-sea species such as orange roughy, particularly on seamounts. enlarge image
	Hydrothermal vent scaleworm (Not available) A hydrothermal vent scale worm crawls across the papery tube of a Pompeii worm. enlarge image
	Deep-sea giant sea spider (Colossendeis) A giant deep-sea spider, nearly a foot across, is an impressive sight indeed. These animals make up for the small size of their bodies by accomodating vital organs such as gonads in their long legs. They feed upon corals and other sessile organisms, sucking up their contents through their enormous proboscis. enlarge image
	Deep-sea glass squid (Teuthowenia pellucida) 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
	Hydrothermal Vent shrimp (Lebbeus bidentatus) Hydrothermal vent shrimp from 2.5 kilometres deep on the East Pacific Rise enlarge image
	Pelagic Worm (Not available) This as yet unidentified abyssal worm is the size of a sausage and swims by bending it's stiff body from side to side, rowing with its bristles. Such worms are found only in very deep water, and have been seen from submersibles as deep as 6.5 kilometres. enlarge image
	Pelagic Worm (Tomopteris sp.) The pelagic worm, Tomopteris, loops the loop. These agile predatory worms live in midwater depths in the open ocean. enlarge image
	Deep-sea sea cucumber (Not available) A multi-pronged, deep-sea sea cucumber living 2.5 kilometres deep on the East Pacific Rise. enlarge image
	Golden Volute (Provocator mirabilis) This is the rare white colour morph of the deepwater golden volute enlarge image