The New York Times has a review and slideshow of a very interesting, very new, and very beautiful science-related coffee table book. It’s called The Deep: The Extraordinary Creatures of the Abyss. The book features 220 color photographs of creatures from thousands of meters below the ocean’s surface, accompanied with essays by deep-sea scientists.
It’s been said before, but the photographs colorful organisms against the deep black are visual reminders of how diverse life actually is. The Times describes it as such:
“… it is as if aliens had descended from another world to amaze and delight. A small octopus looks like a child’s squeeze toy. A seadevil looks like something out of a bad dream. A Ping-Pong tree sponge rivals artwork that might be seen in an upscale gallery.
On the other hand, I always wonder why we tend to compare life that is so incredibly foreign to us to objects that are so incredibly familiar. See, for example, the “football fish” and the “Dumbo octopus.”
It is so dark in the deep sea that bumping into one of these creatures could be terrifying. I’ve always thought that Europa might have life in its oceans like these deep ocean creatures.
Thanks for letting it known about this one. Impressive world down there!
Not cute. The top one looks like Pikachu (sp?)
Top pic: cute.
Bottom pic: straight out of my darkest nightmares. Holy cow, that thing’s scary-looking!
All the creatures - big and small, ugly or cute are special in their own way. I wander what how animals would describe us?!
I need some pics of rare ocean creatures. plz give me some.
i always wonder if they make sounds, and if so, what do they sound like?