An orange and white striped clownfish sits in an anemone.

Census of Marine Life

Preview

This recently discovered hairy crab species (Kiwa hirsuta) has no eyes.

The Census of Marine Life Overview

Looking to find out what the Census of Marine Life is? This overview dives into everything to know.

Read More

Featured Content

Screenshot from Census of Marine Life video of the bottom of a red-colored octopus in dark water.

Creature Feature from the Census of Marine Life

Deep-sea dragonfish from Australia

Census of Marine Life: Wild and Wonderful Creatures

Screenshot from "Census of Marine Life" video showing an upside down pink-colored jellyfish.

Census of Marine Life Video Release

Dive through the zones of the ocean to the deep ocean bottom where many strange species live, and there are many yet to be discovered. Explore them in the Deep Ocean Exploration section.

What We DON'T Know About the Deep Sea

Nine small invertebrates held on two fingers.

On Biodiversity: Understanding its Meaning and Importance

Are You An Educator?

At Smithsonian Ocean, we have lesson plans, activities, and resources to help you engage your students in the wonders of our oceans.

see all lesson plans

Census of Marine Life Articles

Ruth Meadows examines specimens as part of her Teacher at Sea experience. NOAA Teacher at Sea Ruth Meadows sorts specimens aboard the NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow as part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge Ecosystem (MAR-ECO) project.

NOAA Teacher at Sea Ruth Meadows

Cover of the Book Citizens of the Sea

Citizens of the Sea

A red and white colored bristle worm swims in the water column.

Five Questions with Brigitte Ebbe, Polychaete Pundit

This copepod (Gaussia princeps) was collected deeper than 1000 meters in the Sargasso Sea by Census of Marine Zooplankton (CMarZ) researchers in April 2006.

Five Questions with Russ Hopcroft, Zooplankton Whiz

A coral has just spawned. Each of the hundreds of polyps releases a small pink bundle of sperm and eggs.

A Tale of Sex and Stress in the Ocean

An adult and juvenile killer whale frolic in the water.

Menopausal Moms: A Mammal Mystery

Nine small invertebrates held on two fingers.

On Biodiversity: Understanding its Meaning and Importance

Dive through the zones of the ocean to the deep ocean bottom where many strange species live, and there are many yet to be discovered. Explore them in the Deep Ocean Exploration section.

What We DON'T Know About the Deep Sea

This recently discovered hairy crab species (Kiwa hirsuta) has no eyes.

The Census of Marine Life

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

Zooplankton Biodiversity

Deep-sea dragonfish from Australia

Census of Marine Life: Wild and Wonderful Creatures

Screenshot from "Census of Marine Life" video showing an upside down pink-colored jellyfish.

Census of Marine Life Video Release

Banner Credit

Minkey, flickr