Do the animals of the deep deserve their frightening names?

Or are they simply victims of their looks?

30 September 2024 - 2mn read

Abyss

To that question, we're tempted to say YES! The atypical physical appearance of these animals - soft bodies, protruding teeth and expandable stomachs - has certainly influenced the choice of their name, as much as the aura of mystery and legend that surrounds the world of the abyss.

Are the animals of the deep really as terrifying as their names suggest? From common fangtooth and vampire squids to Barreleyes (or spook fish), black swallower and giant phantom jelly. Do we not know that these animals have superpowers?

Because it takes adaptations to withstand the extreme conditions of the deep. Cold, darkness and pressure make up the daily lives of deep-sea animals living in an environment long thought to be deserted!

Impressive adaptations to survive the abyss

Deep-sea species have characteristics that enable them to live in the abyss:

They glow in the dark to find each other and their food,
They have large teeth and sometimes an expandable stomach to capture and swallow the rare prey within their reach,
They have a soft body to resist pressure.

And sometimes, these animals with frightening names and extraordinary qualities are tiny: the common fangtooth is no bigger than 16 cm. So still monsters or superheroes?