Thousands of weird creatures of the deep discovered in underwater 'twilight zone'
source: http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/marine-marvels-found-in-the-darkness-of-the-...
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Thousands of incredible-looking sea creatures which live in permanent darkness miles below the surface of the world's oceans have been catalogued for the first time by scientists.
Tentacled transparent sea cucumbers, primitive "dumbos" that flap ear-like fins, and tubeworms that feed on oil deposits are among 17,650 species recorded living below 656 feet, the point where sunlight ceases. The findings were the latest update on a 10-year census of marine life.
"The deep sea was considered a desert until not so long ago; it's quite amazing to have documented close to 20,000 forms of life in a zone that was thought to be barren," said Jesse Ausubel with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, a sponsor of the census. "The deep sea is the least explored environment on earth."
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/marine-marvels-found-in-the-dark...
Tentacled transparent sea cucumbers, primitive "dumbos" that flap ear-like fins, and tubeworms that feed on oil deposits are among 17,650 species recorded living below 656 feet, the point where sunlight ceases. The findings were the latest update on a 10-year census of marine life.
"The deep sea was considered a desert until not so long ago; it's quite amazing to have documented close to 20,000 forms of life in a zone that was thought to be barren," said Jesse Ausubel with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, a sponsor of the census. "The deep sea is the least explored environment on earth."
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/marine-marvels-found-in-the-dark...
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