Creatures That Live in the Bathyal Zone

The bathyal or bathypelagic zone extends from about 3,280 feet to 13,123 feet below the surface of the ocean, indicates the Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Light is incapable of penetrating this dark zone. Light that does exist comes from bioluminescent animals, such as fish in search of mates. Life existing at this zone depends upon feeding on detritus or hunting upon one another.

Cephalopods

Combining features of an octopus and squid, the vampire squid belongs to its own order, the Vampyromorphida infernalis. This creature, which can turn itself inside out as an escape mechanism from predators, hasn't changed its features much in nearly 300 million years, indicates National Geographic. The vampire squid has adapted large eyes to help it view its dark surroundings. The giant squid is estimated to reach lengths of 60 feet, notes National Geographic. Most information pertaining to the giant squid stems from specimens that have washed ashore. Yet, with the capture of a giant squid in 2006, scientists are hopeful to gain more insight on this elusive creature.

Fish

Many male anglerfish can attach themselves to a single female.

Anglerfish use bioluminescent lures to bait prey. Male anglerfish have adapted mating with females by becoming parasites. Once a male finds a female, he attaches onto her with his teeth. Eventually all body parts of the male, except for his testes, will remain with the female, according to National Geographic. Viperfish have photophores on their dorsal fin that can draw prey nearer. It isn't the light emitting organ, however, that catch the viperfish's prey. It's the fish's bulldog-like teeth that ensnare unsuspecting victims.

Eels

Eels such as the gulper eel and monognathid eel can survive in the bathyal zone. The gulper eel can balloon open its mouth to swallow prey. Lined within its mouth are hundreds of teeth that clamp down. The gulper eel has an elastic stomach, capable of holding large prey. The monognathid eel uses venom to inject in their victims, according to the Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. The monognathid eel doesn't have an upper jaw, but rather a bone that protrudes from the roof of its mouth. This bone connects to venom glands, engaging the bone to act as a fang and capture large shrimp that swim by.

Other Creatures

Amphipods, a form of crustaceans, rely on their transparency to avoid getting eaten by predators. Echinoderms such as starfish also exist. Brittle stars subsist on a diet of plankton and decaying matter. Cookie cutter sharks live at depths of about 11,500 feet. This tiny shark uses photophores on its skin to attract large prey. Once the coockie cutter shark lures prey in, it will remove a cookie-shaped piece of flesh from the body of its prey, states the Florida Museum of Natural History.

References

• Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand: Deep Sea Creatures; The Bathypelagic Zone; March 2009
• National Geographic: Vampire Squid Turns Inside Out; February 3, 2010
• National Geographic: Photo in the News: Giant Squid Captured, Filmed for First Time; December 22, 2006
• National Geographic: Anglerfish; Lophius piscatorius
• Florida Museum of Natural History: Cookiecutter Shark; Cathleen Bester

Resources

• Monteray Bay Aquarium: Pacific Viperfish