Jellyfish near surface
Shark surrounded by small fish
Two sea stars on a reef
A giant crab on the ocean floor
A diver photographing a blue whale
A Portuguese man-of-war on the water’s surface
A breaching whale
A giant isopod underwater
A great white shark underwater
Two giant clams on a coral reef
Close-up of a giant clam's siphon
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Lion’s Mane Jellyfish

The world’s largest creatures reside in the ocean, and its depths are home to unusual species whose surprising proportions are unknown on land.

Here, an underwater view captures the billowing tentacles of a lion’s mane jellyfish. The most potent species of jellyfish, the lion’s mane can reach a diameter of 6.6 feet (2 meters) with tentacles topping 49 feet (15 meters).

Photograph by Paul Nicklen, National Geographic

Colossal Sea Creatures

See photos of colossal sea creatures (including great white sharks, jellyfish, giant clams, and more) in this oceans photo gallery from National Geographic.

November 12, 2009

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