Eight creatures of the deep, and the light they make
Eight of the 101 creatures of the book, one surprising fact each.
By Firoiu Dan Nicolae · 26 October 2026
Pelican Eel: the parachute jaw
Eurypharynx pelecanoides. Despite a vast, loose jaw that balloons like a pelican’s pouch, its stomach is remarkably small. It uses its giant mouth like a net, scooping up swarms of tiny shrimp rather than hunting large fish. More about the pelican eel.
Diaphanous Hatchetfish: the silver razor-blade
Sternoptyx diaphana. To hide from hunters, the hatchetfish is flattened from side to side until it is almost as thin as a coin. Seen head-on, it shrinks to a narrow sliver of metallic silver, barely there at all. More about the diaphanous hatchetfish.
Humpback Anglerfish: the living light-rod
Melanocetus johnsonii. The tiny males have no glowing lure. They use highly developed nose organs to track a female’s scent in the dark. Unlike some of their deep-sea relatives, they stay free-living and never fuse to her as permanent parasites. More about the humpback anglerfish.
Atacama Snailfish: the pressure-proof puddle
Liparidae sp.. Instead of firm muscle and scales, its body is soft and gelatinous. Water-rich tissues help it cope with the enormous pressure of the trench. More about the Atacama snailfish.
Vampire Squid: the cloaked phantom
Vampyroteuthis infernalis. Unlike shallow-water squids that blast water from a siphon, the adult vampire squid drifts gracefully through the deep on two large, ear-like fins on its mantle, flapping them like an elephant’s ears. More about the vampire squid.
Atolla Jelly: the deep-sea burglar alarm
Atolla wyvillei. When attacked, the Atolla jelly makes rings of blue light that spin around its bell. The display can be seen from far away in the dark. More about the Atolla jelly.
Giant Isopod: the deep-sea scavenger tank
Bathynomus giganteus. These creatures are giant cousins of the tiny woodlice found under garden stones. In the deep sea they grow to the size of a small cat, an example of deep-sea gigantism that scientists link to cold water and scarce, scattered food. More about the giant isopod.
Bloody-Belly Comb Jelly: the sparkling rainbow light show
Lampocteis cruentiventer. Red light does not reach the deep sea, so a red animal looks black there. Its deep-red gut hides the glow of any luminous prey it has eaten. More about the bloody-belly comb jelly.
Author and artist of Glowing Oceans and the Glowing Series. He wrote the book’s text, drew its 303 plates, and designs the exhibitions that grow out of it.
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