-
Clown Frogfish
Photograph by Gary Bell, OceanwideImages
A brightly colored clown frogfish shows off its stuff on a reef near Bali, Indonesia. Members of the frogfish family typically keep a much lower profile, relying on the art of camouflage—even changing colors—to stay hidden in their reef homes. Frogfish boast an array of stripes, spots, warts, and other skin anomalies that allow them to impersonate surrounding rocks or plants.
-
Sea Pens
Photograph by Brian J. Skerry, National Geographic
An almost surreal seafloor tableau unfolds in the shallow waters of Long Sound, New Zealand. A colorful blue cod picks its way through a sparse assemblage of sea pens—named for their resemblance to old-time quill writing implements. Sea pens are actually colonies of tiny, tentacled polyps, which form “branches.” They are rooted to the seafloor by an anchoring bulb—which can serve as sanctuary for the entire colony when threatened.
-
Sea Cucumber
Photograph by Bill Curtsinger, National Geographic
A sea cucumber floats in the waters of Bikini Atoll, once home to a series of infamous nuclear bomb tests. These echinoderms can grow to 6.5 feet (two meters) by feeding on tiny aquatic animals, algae, and even waste material. Sea cucumbers recycle food particles into fodder for bacteria much like worms do in soil. Though they are fairly simple animals, sea cucumbers do have one incredible defense mechanism—the ability to eject internal organs out of their anus and regenerate them later.
-
Anglerfish
Photograph by Franco Banfi, SeaPics
An alert anglerfish swims in the cool, dark waters near Norway’s Lofoten Islands. The fish has saggy skin and a distinctive face but is best known for its method of feeding itself. While cruising the seafloor, the fish uses a built-in rod with a tempting filament “lure” that attracts small fish.
-
Blob Sculpins
Photograph courtesy NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center
The blob sculpin’s name may not be flattering but it does capture a bit of the animal’s essence. The 2-foot-long (60-centimeter-long) fish is rather reclusive and not often seen, but blob sculpins have been known to dote on their young. Scientists have observed males guarding rocky seafloor nesting sites, filled with hundreds of pale pink eggs, in mile-deep waters off the California coast.
-
Dumbo Octopus
Photograph by David Shale, Deep Sea Images
The Dumbo octopus, named for its pair of prominent fins, is much smaller than its elephant namesake—it's only about 8 inches (20 centimeters) long—and dwells near the ocean floor at depths of up to 1,310 feet (400 meters). Like other octopuses, it has eight arms, but they are webbed and serve as swimming aids, supplementing the flapping of the giant fins.
-
Eastern Fiddler Ray
Photograph by Gary Bell, OceanwideImages
The eastern fiddler ray is an Australian original that haunts the south coastline’s sandy bays and reefs to prey on shellfish and other seafloor invertebrates. The ray, which can grow to 4 feet (1.2 meters), can be spotted by the triangular markings behind its eyes—part of the distinctive coloring and shape that have earned this animal the nickname “banjo shark.”
-
Giant Hatchetfish
Photograph by David Shale, Deep Sea Images
At less than 5 inches (11 centimeters) long, the giant hatchetfish isn’t the behemoth its name suggests, but it does have some big league abilities. The deep-sea dweller boasts a row of light-producing organs lined up along its belly, the “blade” on its hatchet body. These bioluminescent organs shine like daylight from above the ocean surface, creating counterillumination to confuse predators that strike dark silhouettes from below. Hatchetfish swim in temperate and tropical seas all over the world.
-
Red-Lipped Batfish
Photograph by David Doubilet, National Geographic
This photogenic fish has red lips and fins made for walking the seafloor near the Galápagos Islands. The red-lipped batfish is one of some 60 species of batfishes, “flattened” from life on the seafloor and adapted to walk on modified pectoral and pelvic fins. Like other anglerfishes, batfishes also use a built-in fishing rod snout, equipped with a retractable appendage, to lure prey close to their lips—which, by the way, appear far less conspicuous without a photographer’s flash.
More Ocean Galleries
Ocean Topics
-
Acidification
-
Ballard, Robert
-
Bowermaster, Jon
-
Cook-Wise
-
De Rothschild, David
-
Doubilet, David
-
Earle, Sylvia
-
Frozen Seafood Benefits
-
Goodman, Beverly
-
Habitat Destruction
-
Invasive Species
-
Kristof, Emory
-
Marine Food Chain
-
Marine Pollution
-
Nicklen, Paul
-
Norman, Brad
-
Ocean Overview
-
Overfishing
-
Plastiki
-
Pristine Seas Expeditions
-
Sala, Enric
-
Seafood Decision Guide
-
Seafood Substitutions
-
Sea Level Rise
-
Sea Temperature Rise
-
Seaver, Barton
-
Sustainable Seafood
-
Thys, Tierney
-
Tips to Save the Ocean
Advertisement
Your Ocean
-
For Kids
Learn about the ocean with activities, photos, and games.
-
Ocean Education
Bring engaging and important ocean learning to your classroom.
From the Channel
-
"Rebuilding Titanic"
Meet the Ship's Masterminds and More
-
Birth of Titanic
Explore her historic construction in this beautiful interactive.
-
Titanic: The Final Secret
Join legendary explorer, Dr. Robert Ballard, as he reveals the details behind this story of stealth, subs and superpowers.
Support the Ocean
Help protect the last healthy, undisturbed places in the ocean so we can learn how to help healthy reefs thrive, help unhealthy reefs recover, and better preserve the ocean.
Explore the Ocean
-
Ocean Life
Order ocean books, DVDs, maps, and more from the National Geographic online store.
-
Ocean Special Issue
Explore the world's oceans, from their prehistoric beginnings to modern-day efforts to preserve their natural wonder.
-
Ocean: An Illustrated Atlas
Immerse yourself in the wonders of the deep through colorful maps, photos, and satellite images.
Engage, Conserve, Restore
-
Freshwater Initiative
The National Geographic Society’s freshwater initiative is a multi-year global effort to inspire and empower individuals and communities to conserve freshwater and preserve the extraordinary diversity of life that rivers, lakes, and wetlands sustain.