Ocean Life | Smithsonian Ocean

Translucent jellyfish in the ocean

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.

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Featured Content

Two octopuses sitting underwater highlight the different textures the animals can take on.

Overview

Octopuses and Squids

Two Adélie penguins on Paulet Island, Antarctica

Overview

Penguins

Corals, sponges, and algae are the major components of most coral reef communities as shown in this picture.

Overview

Corals and Coral Reefs

Chrysaora melanaster is a jellyfish found in the Arctic.

Overview

Jellyfish and Comb Jellies

Great hammerhead in Bimini, Bahamas.

Overview

Sharks

Ocean Life Articles

Satellite view of the Gulf Coast oil spill off of Louisiana, April 29, 2010.

Article

State of Emergency in the Gulf

two mangrove trees in the crashing waves

Overview

Mangroves

an illustration of a sperm whale and a giant squid

Video

Clyde Roper: Squid Hunter - Architeuthis

A female napoleon wrasse swims by a reef

Article

An App Helps Scientists Combat Illegal Fish Trade

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

Slideshow

Zooplankton Biodiversity

Penguins in an aquarium habitat.

Video

Kansas City Zoo Penguin Cam

a green crochet bacteria

Article

Make Your Own: Cyanobacterium

Screenshot of video "100,000,000 to 000,000,001: Rethink the Shark"

Video

100,000,000 to 000,000,001: Rethink the Shark

The red paper lantern jellyfish is the focus of the latest podcast One Species at a Time, by the Encyclopedia of Life. Vacuumed up from its habitat a mile down in the ocean, the red paper lantern jelly may not look like much. Mostly water, it’s

Audio

Red Paper Lantern Jellyfish: One Species at a Time

On coral reefs fish are important links in the food chain that sustains higher-order predators (including humans) and keeps everything in balance.

Article

Fish Get Risky Around Oil

A small, transparent, shell-less sea snail in the open ocean.

Article

Angels of the Sea

Ocean Food Web Listing Image

Interactive

The Missing Microbial Link in the Ocean Food Web