Deep See Dragonfish ( Grammatostomisa flagellibarba)

The deep see Dragonfish, sometimes known as the scaleless dragonfish is a ferocious predator that inhabits the deep oceans of the world. Known scientifically as Grammatoatomias flagellibarba , it has extremely large teeth compared to its body size. In spite of its gruesome appearance. its is a small fish, measuring only about 15 centimeters in length. There are several different species of dragonfish. All are very similar in appearance.

The Deep sea dragnofishis one of the many species of deep sea fish that can produce its own light through a chemical process known as bioluminescence. The light is produced by a special organ known as a photophores. It is believed that the fish can use these flashing lights in the dark waters to attract prey and even to signal potential mates. The dragonfish has a large head and mouth equipped with many sharp , fang-like teeth. It also has a long protrusion known as a barbel attached to its chin. This barbel is tipped with a light-producing photophores along the sides of its body. These light organs may be used to signal other dragon fish during mating. They may also serve to attract and disorient prey fishes from deep below.

The dragonfish can use its light producing barbel like a fishing lure. By flashing it on and off and waving it back and forth, it is though that the dragonfish can attract the attention of its potential meal. Once an unsuspecting fish gets too close, it is snapped up in the dragonfish's powerful jaws.

The large teeth of the dragonfish help it to grab its prey as it hunts in the dark waters of the deep sea. It will feed on small fish and crustaceans as well as anything else it can find. Since many of their prey also produce light themselves, the dragonfifh has evolved special method of remaining hidden from predators after its meal.

Because they live in extremely deep waters, very little is known about the mating habits of the drgonfish. It is believed  that they are external spawners, meaning that  the female releases eggs into the water to be fertilized by the male. The eggs then float to the surface where they remain until hatching. Once  the eggs hatch, the tiny larvae are left to fend for them selves until they can reach maturity. Once mature, they return to the deep ocean to spend the rest of their lives.

The deep sea dragonfish lives in deep ocean waters at  depths of up to 5000 feet(1500 meters) Although dragofish species are found in most oceans the world, the deep sea dragonfish is limited mainly to the North and western Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.

A list of amazing creatures of the deep ocean

Name                          Scientific name                    Living depth range

Chambered Nautilus                      Nautilus pompilius                                  Down to 1800ft

Giant Squid                                   Architeuthis dux                                      Down to 10000ft

Giant Tube Worm                         Riftia pachyptila                                      Over 50000ft

Sperm Whale                               Physeter macrocephalus                          Down to 10000ft

Oarfish                                         Regalecus glesne                                      Down to 3000ft

Vampire Squid                             Vampyroteuthis infernalis                        1800 to 3500ft

Firefly Squid                                 Watasenia scintillans                               600 to 1200ft

Giant Isopod                                 Bathynomus giganteus                            Over 200ft

Lanternfish                                    Symbolophorus barnardi                         1200 to 3000ft

Gulper Eel                                    Eurypharynx pececanoides                      Between 500- 6000ft

Atlantic Hagfish                            Myxine glutinosa                                      Down to 4000ft

Coelacanth                                   Latimeria chalumnae                               600 to 1000ft

Sixgill Shark                                 Hexanchus griseus                                    Down to 6000ft

Deep Sea Dragnofish                   Grammatostomias flagellibarba               Down to 5000ft

Vampire Squid ( Vampyroteuthis infernalis )

The vampire squid, known to scientists as Vampyroteuthis infernalis , looks like something that swam out of a late-night science fiction movie. In spite of its monstrous name, it is a small creature, growing to only about six inched in length. The vampire squid is an ancient species and is a phylogenic relict, meaning that is the only surviving member of the order vampyromonophida. It is a unique member of the cephalopod family in that it shares similarities with both squid and octopuses. In fact, it was originally and mistakenly identified as an octopus by researchers in 1903.

The vampire squid has large fins at the top of its body that resemble ears. These fins serve as its primary means of propulsion as it literally files through the water by flapping these fines. As with other squid, it can also use jet propulsion to move by expelling water through a specialized siphon jet located just under its mantle. The vampire squid has a very gelatinous from, resembling a jellyfish more than the common squid.

Through it is relatively small, growing to a length of only about six inches, it has globular eye balls about the size of those of a large dog. These large eyes can appear red or blue in color, depending on the light. The vampire squid's eight arms are connected with a webbing of skin, which makes it look more like an octopus than a squid. When threatened, the squid can draw its arms up over itself and form a defensive web that covers its body. Each of the eight arms is lined with a single row of suction  cups and rows of soft , fleshy spines known as cirri.

It is these spines, along with the cape- like webbing and red eyes that give the vampire squid its unusual name. Located inside the vampire squid's webbed arms can be found a pair of retractable sensory filaments. These filamnets are similar to the two long tentacles found on other squid species. Also located within the webbing are two powerful beak like jaws. These jaws are as white as ivory and are strong enough to crush the shells of crustaceans.. the squid's color ranges from jet black to pale red.

The vampire squids body is covered with light- producing organs called photophores. This gives the squid the unique ability to turn itself on or off at will through a chemical process known as bio luminescence  When the photophores are off, the squid is completely invisible in the dark waters where it lives. The squid has incredible control over these light organs. It has the ability to modulate the size and intensity of the photophores to create complex patterns that can be used to disorient predatators and attract prey.

The distribution of eggs has been found to be similar throughout the year, indicating that there may be no particular breeding season. Once the eggs hatch, the young hatchlings will drift with the water They resemble miniature versions of the adults except that they lack the webbing between the arms and their eyes are much smaller. As they devolop, the young vampire squid undergo what has been described as a double mentamorphosis. At early stages of development the young squid have a single pair of fins located near the eyes. At the animal reached maturity. these fins are resized and repositioned to maximize swimming efficiency.

Vampire squid are found throughout the deep oceans of the world in most tropical and temperate regions at depths of between 90 meters and 900 meters. They live in the oxygen minimum layer of the ocean where virtually no light penetrates. They seem to prefer a temperature between 35 and 43 degrees Fahrenheit (between 2 and 6 degrees Celsius)