![]() ![]() For example, giant tube worms are creatures without eyes, mouths, or intestines, and they derive their energy from sulfur loving bacteria found in chemicals in the hot water around hydrothermal vents. Still other deep-sea marine organisms endure great pressure because they have no excess cavities. Some species have developed larger eyes to absorb available light, while others rely on highly developed olfactory senses to find their food. Many are bioluminescent, producing their own low-level light to lure prey or attract mates. Some organisms have made adaptations to their harsh environment. Deep-sea creatures sift through the mud for food or prey on fellow bottom dwellers. Surprisingly, life does exist in the abyssal plain. The ooze on the plain's surface is comprised of sediment and organic marine "snow," or dead plant and animal matter and wastes that have fallen from the surface waters over millions of years. The pressure is enormous, averaging between 200 to 600 times greater than at the surface-enough to crush submarines. The water there is cold-around 3 C (37.4 F). This large, flat ecosystem exists in perpetual darkness, as sunlight cannot penetrate to such depths. ![]() According to the BBC's The Blue Planet: Seas of Life documentary, "more people have traveled into space than have traveled to the deep ocean realm." The deepest of the ocean's life zones is the abyssal plain, ranging from 2,000 to 6,000 meters (1.2 to 3.7 miles) below sea level. ![]()
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