9 Different and Quirky Creatures That Live Deep in Antarctica (There’s Even “Dumbo Octopus”)

Since the first expeditions in Antarctica, the coldest place on Earth, it has been identified that the underwater animals of some species were surprisingly larger than the animals that lived in the waters of other continents. Thus, scientists named this fact as abyssal gigantism. Although little is known about this event until the present day, scientists believe that these sea creatures are giants because the ice water has a high oxygen content.

we, from awesome.club, We separate 9 facts about strange and immense (and yet fantastic) creatures that inhabit the depths of Antarctica, a place where real life is stranger than fiction. Follow along with us.

The colossal squid is considered a true mystery of the icy waters of Antarctica and the largest invertebrate animal in the world. Since 1925, only eight colossal adults have been found, with the largest squid found measuring about 13 meters and weighing almost half a ton. After all, it is no wonder that she fascinates so many researchers.

The gigantic animal is a true predator and one of the most dangerous creatures in the Antarctic seas, as it has huge beaks and sharp spinning hooks in its tentacles. Precisely for this reason, the colossal is constantly compared to the Kraken, a legendary creature that is part of Norse mythology.

These translucent, pink, “alien” shaped creatures are called porcupines. Sea pigs belong to the same taxon as the sea cucumber and inhabit the deep areas of all oceans, especially those of the Southern Ocean. Although they feed on the bottom of the ocean depths, what happens on the surface affects them directly. Also, porcupines move at a slow, leisurely pace so as not to waste energy.

It’s worth noting that these little creatures bear no resemblance to the swimming pigs that inhabit the beaches of Nassau, in the Bahamas, huh?!

The Dumbo Octopus was named after the fact that its fins resemble the Disney character. Cute, no? Connected by a piece of skin, his arms allow him to glide through the icy waters with ease and with the delicacy of a ballerina. The umbrella-shaped octopus inhabits the extreme depths—up to 13,000 feet below the surface. Have you ever thought if other sea creatures were also named after Disney protagonists?

The giant starfish is easily found on the bottom of the Southern Ocean. The marine animal enchants with its vibrant colors and impacts when it is found with several tentacles. The Antarctic star can be the same size as a large pizza, about 38 cm in diameter. Have you ever thought about holding a “star” like that?

Sea lilies, also known as feather stars, are echinoderms that stand out for their beauty and vivid colors. The giant creature is one of the oldest marine invertebrates and makes good use of its long arms to move through the cold waters. Its graceful movement is eye-catching and recalls the delicacy of a dance. Sea lilies feed on plankton and small particles carried by the water. In addition, colorful animals are impressive because they are not only found in corals, but also in the depths of the coldest and most remote place on Earth.

Most land spiders tend to be small, and sea spiders also tend to be tiny, with the exception of the sea spider that lives in the icy depths of Antarctica. While the rest of the spiders are the size of a fingernail, the Antarctic arachnid is the size of a plate. The giant creatures lack gills and “breathe” through their legs, which allows more oxygen to be absorbed into their bodies, allowing them to grow longer.

Furthermore, this gigantic animal is more common, and is found in greater variety, in Antarctica than anywhere else in the world. Thus, we have only one question: if the terrifying sea spider bit Peter Parker, would he be called “HoMar-Spider”?

The arms of this Antarctic jellyfish are surprisingly long: they measure about 10 meters long. No wonder this giant creature is considered one of the largest invertebrate predators in the Southern Ocean. Unfortunately, little is known about this gigantic creature, as few people have seen it. It is also unknown how its protruding arms are used to capture its victims. Perhaps these “long curtains” simply get tangled up in their fangs.

The humpback whale travels from the Southern Hemisphere to Antarctica to feed on krill, crustaceans that look like shrimp. With the arrival of more humpbacks, they start to work as a team and in a coordinated way. In this way, the whales corner their prey in a circle, making a net of bubbles around the crustaceans to prevent them from escaping, so they can capture more than hundreds if not millions of krill at once.

Krill is one of the most abundant animals in the Southern Glacial Ocean and is at the base of the food chain, being essential for the survival of the frozen continent’s ecosystem. Antarctic krill are the largest of their kind. It measures 6 cm and is twice the size of animals in other oceans, overshadowing its species in warmer waters. According to scientists, there may be around 400 million tons of krill in Antarctic waters, making them the most numerous animal on Earth.

The crustacean with gigantism (yes, you didn’t read that wrong!) has a series of organs that produce light in its interior, although its function is unknown. In this way, the luminescence causes the krill to glow a beautiful shade of blue.

What did you think of this mysterious world hidden under ice and snow? What mysteries do you believe the Antarctic seas hide? And which animals would you like to see here on our list? Tell us in the comments.