I can't tell you how often I forced my family to sit through a viewing of The Little Mermaid as a kid. No matter how many times in a row I watched it in a day, I was always ready for more of the underwater antics.
Of course, those fictional critters had a lot more character to them than we'd really find while exploring the depths of oceans and seas, but that doesn't mean there aren't still plenty of fascinating creatures swimming around our planet. It makes sense that we're always discovering something new down there, considering most of Earth is submerged in water, so it will obviously take awhile to comb through each and every one of them.
Take a look to see just a handful of the most beautiful animals and organisms you can spot if you dive deep enough into certain waters.
Did we miss your favorite sea creature? Let us know in the comments and be sure to SHARE with your friends!
[H/T: National Geographic]
Thumbnail source: Pixabay
1. Regal Sea Goddess Nudibranch
This gorgeous slug was photographed at Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, Savannah, GA.
2. Bluebell Tunicate Colony
These filter feeders can be found in the waters near Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Mariana Islands, Philippines, Singapore, and Malaysia.
3. Venus Flytrap Anemone
This scary looking creature lives up to its doppelgänger's reputation by using its tentacles to capture prey or to protect itself.
4. Sea Pen
Rumors surrounding this beautiful octoral (or "soft coral") began circulating in early 2016 when it was misidentified as a rarely blooming flower, but the organism can be found in deep waters from the Gulf of Alaska and all along the coast to southern California.
5. Blue Tang
Related to the fish voiced by Ellen DeGeneneres in Finding Dory, these beauties actually start out their lives pale yellow and eventually grow into the calming blue hue as adults.
6. Flower Hat Jellyfish
These tricky hydrozoans have a very similar appearance to their scyphozoan (jellyfish) relatives, but they are of their own unique class and can be found off the coast of southern Japan.
7. Christmas Tree Worm
The spirobranchus giganteus earned its charming nickname thanks to the colorful cone-shaped spiral growths on their backs resembling the fir trees we bring into our homes every December.
8. Lined Chiton
This vibrant, jewel-toned critter can be found off the coast of Alaska and down the California coast, and has also been spotted in Russian and Japanese seas.
9. Lion's Mane Jellyfish
Found around northeast America as well as England, Ireland, and Scandinavian countries, this "true" jellyfish is one of the largest of its species, also earning it the title of "giant jellyfish." The biggest example ever seen washed up on Massachusetts Bay way back in 1870 and measured over seven feet in length.
10. Salp Colony
These luminescent little groups of gelatinous forms look more like the ocean is stringing up lights for a party, but their jet propulsion makes them one of the most efficient creatures in the animal kingdom.
11. Sea Lilies
Also known as "feather stars," these wispy cinroids attach themselves to the ocean floor once they reach adulthood.
12. Bearded Fireworm
You can spot one of these underwater centipede-like animals crawling around the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea sporting their bright hues and white silk bristles.
13. Sandworm
Despite their plain name, these look a bit more terrifying, especially since they've been known to grow up to four feet in length. However, they are mostly harvested as fishing bait.
14. Red King Crab
Okay, you might have seen one of these at your local seafood restaurant, but this particular crustacean seems to have missed the memo on what color he's supposed to be.
15. Ascidian Sea Squirt
Similar to the bluebell tunicate colony, these have a blobbier, lace-like tunic rather than the cylindrical body of their relatives, and can be found bunched together in the waters around Madagascar and Australia.
Did we miss any amazing deep sea creatures you've discovered? Let us know below and be sure to SHARE with your friends!
