Exploring Our Fluid Earth

Animals in the bathy-, abysso-, and hadopelagic zones, are truly a bizarre bunch. Living in such a specialized habitat, they have many adaptations that help them cope with the unique challenges posed by their high pressure, cold, lightless surroundings. Many lack eyes, or have very tiny eyes. They tend to be small with flabby bodies. Because it is difficult to find food, they’re enormous mouths and distendable stomachs allow them to feed on prey items larger than themselves. Mating adaptations include male parasitism. Some deepwater animals possess light organs that may help them lure prey.