NOAA Ocean Exploration’s
Spooky Star
Scientists on expeditions with NOAA Ocean Exploration have spotted all kinds of weird and wonderful creatures over the years, which made us start to wonder: which deep-sea animal is the coolest, spookiest, and strangest of all?
The truth is, we’re having a hard time deciding. It’s not just that there are so many fascinating deep-sea animals: All of our options also play critical roles in the ocean habitats they call home. To solve our problem, we’re holding a contest this October so that you can help choose: Which animal truly deserves to be named NOAA Ocean Exploration’s Spooky Star?
Every week between now and Halloween, three new contestants will be added below for voting. Browse the descriptions and videos and choose your favorite: The winners of the first three rounds will compete in the finals, and the Spooky Star champion will be announced on October 31. Good luck to all the competitors, and Happy Halloween!
Round 2:
Aphyonid, bigfin squid, and isopod
#1
#2
#3
Option 1: Aphyonid (ghost fish)
What is an aphyonid?
Aphyonidae is the scientific name for a family of eel-like deep-sea fishes. The individual in the video above was the first of its family to ever be seen alive: It was spotted at a depth of about 2,500 meters by scientists participating in NOAA Ocean Exploration’s 2016 Deepwater Exploration of the Marianas. The fish has highly reduced eyes that are adapted to the extreme darkness of its habitat.
Why should you vote for it?
With its unusual eyes and its scaleless, mostly transparent body, this aphyonid has clearly earned its "ghost fish" nickname. Plus, while its features are a great fit for Halloween, the aphyonid also has that "cute" factor that’s hard to beat.
Option 2: Bigfin squid
What is a bigfin squid?
Bigfin squid (Magnapinna sp.) are remarkable animals. Distributed throughout the global ocean, they can live deeper than any other known squid. The specimen in the video above was recorded at a depth of 2,385 meters during NOAA Ocean Exploration’s Windows to the Deep 2021 expedition, but they’ve also been found over 6,200 meters below the surface! Bigfin squid can reach lengths of more than 6 meters (20 feet), though most of that length is owed to their very thin arms and tentacles that may be used to catch small prey with microscopic suckers.
Why should you vote for it?
Let’s face it: Encountering a squid that’s 6 meters long (or longer!) would probably startle most people. The bigfin squid, though, has managed to attract a good number of fans who appreciate just how incredible it is. The unusual, seemingly "jointed" arms, the mysteries surrounding its lifestyle, and, of course, the huge fin crowning its body have made the bigfin squid one of the best-known ambassadors of deep-ocean science.
Option 3: Isopod
What is an isopod?
"Isopod" refers to all of the many animals in the order Isopoda, which contains some types of crustaceans. The best-known isopods are the land-dwelling ones that you might find at a local park or in your yard, which are commonly known as pill bugs, roly-polies, or woodlice (among many other names). Plenty of isopods live in the ocean, though, and some, like the animal in the video above, are deep-sea dwellers. This long-legged isopod was found during the 2016 Deepwater Exploration of the Marianas.
Why should you vote for it?
While it isn’t closely related to spiders, this isopod’s long legs would help it fit in as a decoration at any Halloween party. Also, wouldn’t you say that its white color and rigid body make it look quite skeletal?
Vote for the winner of this round below by October 20!
Round 1 Complete
Basket star, rhinochimaera, and nemertean worm
Rhinochimaera has won this round and will move on to the finals!
#1
#2
#3
Option 1: Basket star
What is a basket star?
Like their name suggests, basket stars are closely related to brittle stars and other sea stars. The reason they look so different is because their arms split off from one another, creating a network of grasping appendages that help them find and collect food. The basket star in the video above was found while exploring Indonesian waters in 2010.
Why should you vote for it?
Basket stars can make quite the spooky first impression with their many swaying arms. The basket star in the video above is from the genus Gorgonocephalus, a name that reflects its resemblance to the serpents on a mythological gorgon’s head. Look a little closer, though, and you’ll see that basket stars can also be surprisingly good neighbors: this basket star seems to be home to several shrimp!
Option 2: Rhinochimaera
What is a rhinochimaera?
Commonly known as ghost sharks or rat fish, chimaeras are cartilaginous fish most closely related to sharks and rays. The "rhino" in rhinochimaera refers to the long noses that give some species of chimaera such a distinctive look, like the one in the video above. This rhinochimaera was found while exploring Hydrographer Canyon as part of the Northeast U.S. Canyons Expedition 2013.
Why should you vote for it?
This rhinochimaera looks quite ghostly floating through the water. Movie fans might recognize that this particular animal looks a lot like Zero, Jack Skellington’s ghost dog in "The Nightmare Before Christmas."
Option 3: Nemertean worm
What is a nemertean worm?
Also known as a ribbon worm or proboscis worm, nemertean worms like this one roam across the seafloor on slime trails. To hunt, these worms surprise their prey with a long, venomous appendage called a proboscis. The nemertean worm in the video above was found during the 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones expedition.
Why should you vote for it?
It may not look like much, but the nemertean worm is a fascinating animal. Along with its curious hunting strategy, many nemertean worms like the one above use a unique method to escape from predators: splitting apart! In many cases, the smaller worms that the animal splits into when stressed continue to survive as separate creatures.
Can’t get enough of the deep-ocean Halloween spirit? You can find pumpkin carving templates and more spine-tingling resources on the NOAA Spooky Science page.
All videos courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration.