Translucent jellyfish in the ocean

Vida Oceánica

A photo of a squid using bioluminescence to hide in the deep sea.

Bioluminescence Overview

For some ocean creatures, creating light is a matter of life and death. Learn about how light is used in the ocean.

Read More

Featured Content

Vida Oceánica Articles

Smithsonian Scientists Describe a 'New' Fossil Whale

An illustration of a recently discovered species of Monodontid, Bohaskaia monodontoides, and its beluga and narwhale relatives

Martha Nizinski: Hooked on Deep-Sea Corals

Scientist Martha Nizinski examines a sample of the deep-sea coral Lophelia pertusa, collected 600-m (1,969-ft) deep off the coast of the southeastern United States.

Citizens of the High Seas

an elephant seal with a tracker

The Blue Halo – Barbuda and Beyond

A Barbudan fisherman with a fresh lobster catch!

Where the Shark and the Snapper Roam

Grey reef sharks are among the most versatile and tough predators on a Pacific coral reef, but they are also among the most vulnerable species, as they are threatened by wasteful fishing practices like shark finning.

What We're Reading 10/21

Colorful corals are disappearing in the Great Barrier Reef.

Si la vida te da un pez león...

Una mujer sostiene una bandeja blanca que exhibe joyas de pez león.