Field guide · low-light life
Abyssal index
A starting chart for the remarkable animals of the twilight, midnight, and vent zones. Depths are approximate and can vary by species and life stage.
| Species | Zone | Observed depth |
|---|---|---|
| Vampire squidVampyroteuthis infernalis | Oxygen minimum zone | 600–900 m |
| Dumbo octopusGrimpoteuthis species | Abyssal seafloor | 400–7,000 m |
| Barreleye fishMacropinna microstoma | Twilight zone | Mesopelagic Pacific |
| Giant isopodBathynomus giganteus | Western Atlantic seafloor | 170–2,140 m |
| Yeti crabKiwa tyleri | Antarctic hydrothermal vents | Around 2,600 m |
| Giant phantom jellyStygiomedusa gigantea | Midwater | Open ocean below the surface |
| Black dragonfishIdiacanthus atlanticus | Twilight and midnight zones | Mesopelagic to bathypelagic |