Census of Marine Life

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The Census of Marine Life is a global network of researchers in 80+ nations engaged in a ten-year scientific initiative to assess and explain the diversity, distribution and abundance of marine life in the world’s oceans - past, present and future. Conducting research in under-explored and well-studied habitats alike, in both coastal and deep waters, the Census is identifying new organisms, collecting new information on ocean life, analyzing historical documents, and modeling future ecosystems. This will enable scientists to compare what once lived in the oceans to what lives there now, and to project what will live there in the future. The world's first comprehensive Census of Marine Life - past, present, and future - will be released in 2010.

Collaborator Contributions

Photograph of a translucent red-orange comb jelly against a black sea.

Red Mid-Water Comb Jelly

Like this ctenophore (Aulococtena acuminata), many animals that live in the midwater zone are red—making them almost invisible in the dim blue light that filters down from the sea surface. This small comb jelly snares prey with its two short tentacles.

Jewel Squid

This beautiful jewel squid (Histioteuthis bonnellii) can be found swimming above the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, at depths of 500-2,000 meters (1,640-6,562 feet). The “jewels” covering the body are bioluminescent photophores. But these squids can't bargain for their lives with those jewels: they have been found in the stomachs of sperm whales, swordfish and sharks.

Chimaera from the Deep

This rarely-seen smalleyed rabbitfish (Hydrolagus affinis), belonging to the order of Chimaera, was caught during a research trip to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in 2004 sponsored by the Census of Marine Life. In Greek mythology, chimeras were beasts that were part lion, part snake and part goat, although deep sea Chimaeras are not a combination of animals.

Arctic Sea Cucumber

This new species of deep-water sea cucumber (Elpidia belyaevi) was discovered by Census of Marine Life researchers in the frigid waters of the Arctic. Since the 1800s, researchers observed sea cucumbers similar to this one in the Arctic at all depths, from shallow to deep, and assumed they were all the same species, Elpidia glacialis.

Dragonfish from Australia

Deep-sea species like this dragonfish (Bathophilus indicus) live in cold, dark waters and may go weeks or months between meals. When food is found, the fish uses its impressive teeth—including some on its tongue—to get a tight grip on its prey.

On a seamount peak, a huge colony of brittlestars (likely Ophiacantha rosea) feeds on passing particles.

Millions of Brittlestars

A huge colony of brittlestars (likely Ophiacantha rosea) covers the peak of a seamount in the deep ocean. What’s the attraction? Food! Their arms reach out for tiny food particles carried by the swift Antarctic Circumpolar Current.

Sargassum fish from the Waters of South Korea

The sargassum fish (Histrio histrio) is a member of the frogfish family (Antennariidae) and typically lives in open waters near floating sargassum seaweed, which offers camouflage. Although capable of swimming quite rapidly, this fish often crawls through the sargassum weed, using its pectoral fins like arms.

Venus Fly-Trap Anemone in the Gulf of Mexico

Researchers photographed this Venus fly-trap anemone (Actinoscyphia sp.) in the Gulf of Mexico. These elegant, deep-water animals can be found at roughly 4,900 feet (1500 meters). See more photos from the Census of Marine Life.

Spider Conch from China

This beautiful spider conch (Lambis chiragra) was collected by Census of Marine Life scientists conducting research near China.

Census researchers discovered this sea cucumber (Enypniastes sp.) in the Gulf of Mexico.

Transparent Sea Cucumber

Census of Marine Life researchers discovered this unusual transparent sea cucumber (Enypniastes sp.) in the Gulf of Mexico. It creeps forward on its tentacles, sweeping detritus-rich sediment into its mouth. So far Census researchers have discovered more than 5,000 new species. They expect to find many more.

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