Lainie2020- Deep-Sea Discoveries
When we think of life in the oceans, we usually think of all the plants, corals and fish a scuba diver might see. But those things are only about 100 feet deep. Most of the ocean is much, much deeper. It is so deep that no sunlight ever reaches it. The very deepest point in the ocean is nearly seven miles below the surface!
A WHOLE NEW WORLD
The deep ocean might be completely dark, but it is filled with life. The creatures of the deep can look strange. Imagine an octopus with elephant ears, or a jellyfish that looks like a flying saucer with rows of blinking lights. Picture a fish with huge eyes, giant teeth and headlights it uses for hunting!
These are just a few of the wonders of the deep sea. "Many of these creatures are so rare that they have been seen and photographed only once," Claire Nouvian, author of the book "The Deep," told TFK.
Creatures of the deep may look odd, but they are perfectly suited to where they live. Most can create their own light. Special chemicals in their bodies give them bioluminescence (bye-oh-loo-mih-ness-ens). Fireflies have these chemicals too.
WHAT ELSE IS DOWN THERE?
More and more of these bizarre creatures are being discovered. In October, 2007, an expedition returned from the Pacific Ocean. The scientists collected new types of animals. They used an underwater camera to record the behavior of the animals and where they lived.
Exploration of the deep is just getting started. Even stranger creatures may bubble up next!
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