11 Criaturas Mais Surpreendentes da Fossa das Marianas

Summary

The Mariana Trench, the deepest part of our planet, harbors incredible life forms adapted to its extreme conditions of no light, freezing temperatures, and immense pressure. This video explores some of the most extraordinary creatures living at these depths, such as the bioluminescent Black Devil Fish, the slow-moving Sea Cucumber, the unique Hermit Crab with a living anemone for protection, and the elusive Ghost Shark. These creatures demonstrate nature’s remarkable ability to thrive in the harshest environments, with many still largely unexplored, leaving us with a sense of wonder about the mysteries lurking beneath the ocean's surface.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Mariana Trench is the deepest part of the Earth's oceans, reaching almost 11 kilometers deep, with extreme pressure over 1,000 times that of the surface.
• 😀 Despite the harsh conditions (no sunlight, freezing temperatures, immense pressure), unique life forms thrive in the Mariana Trench.
• 😀 The Black Devil Fish (also known as the Black Dragonfish) has a bioluminescent organ to attract prey and an enormous mouth with razor-sharp teeth. Female fish can reach up to 1 meter long, while males are only 4 cm.
• 😀 Sea cucumbers, often mistaken for jellyfish, are slow-moving creatures that can release toxic substances for defense and are valuable in Asian cuisine and cosmetics.
• 😀 The Mariana Trench's hermit crabs use sea anemones instead of traditional shells for protection, making them look like spiders as they move.
• 😀 The spherical, glowing jellyfish discovered in the Mariana Trench may be a predator, with its bioluminescent head and unique structure for capturing prey.
• 😀 The Predatory Urochordata, a primitive species, uses a giant mouth to catch crustaceans and zooplankton and has a fascinating evolutionary history, potentially linked to human ancestors.
• 😀 James Cameron, the director of Titanic and Avatar, is also known for his deep-sea explorations, becoming the third person to reach the Mariana Trench's bottom in 2012.
• 😀 Giant marine worms, known as Enteropneusts, were discovered at the Mariana Trench's bottom, with some species reaching impressive lengths of over 2 meters.
• 😀 The Mariana Trench is home to bizarre and rare species like the supergiant amphipod, which can grow up to 30 cm long, much larger than its shallow-water relatives.

Q & A

What is the Mariana Trench, and why is it so significant?

The Mariana Trench is the deepest part of the world's oceans, located in the Pacific Ocean. It is significant because it reaches depths of nearly 11 kilometers, creating extreme pressure and dark conditions, making it a mysterious and largely unexplored area of the planet.

How do creatures in the Mariana Trench survive the extreme conditions?

Creatures in the Mariana Trench have evolved unique adaptations to survive extreme pressure, darkness, and cold. For instance, some species have bioluminescent organs to attract prey, while others are adapted to withstand the immense pressure at those depths.

What is the Black Devil Fish, and how does it capture its prey?

The Black Devil Fish, a type of anglerfish, has a bioluminescent organ on its head that attracts prey. When a fish approaches, the Black Devil Fish opens its enormous mouth and sucks in its prey at a high speed. Females of the species can grow up to 1 meter, while males are much smaller.

What defense mechanism do sea cucumbers in the Mariana Trench use?

Sea cucumbers in the Mariana Trench release a toxic substance from their intestines when threatened, which acts as a defense mechanism against predators. Additionally, they can offer their bodies as a food source to other organisms if needed.

What is the significance of the predatory urochordata discovered in the Mariana Trench?

The urochordata predatoria, a marine creature discovered in the trench, is significant because it is an ancient species that may be related to the evolutionary ancestors of humans. It is a predatory species with a spine and brain, which is rare for this group.

What role does James Cameron play in the exploration of the Mariana Trench?

James Cameron, the director of films like Titanic and Avatar, is an avid fan of deep-sea exploration. In 2012, he became the third person to descend to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, helping to discover new microorganisms and invertebrates.

What are enteropneusts, and how are they related to deep-sea exploration?

Enteropneusts are worm-like creatures found in the Mariana Trench that can grow up to 2.5 meters long. They were discovered during deep-sea expeditions and are notable for their bright colors and the ability to glide through the water, which is a rare feature in such creatures.

How do supergiant amphipods differ from their shallow-water relatives?

Supergiant amphipods, found in the Mariana Trench, can grow up to 30 cm in length, much larger than their shallow-water relatives, which typically measure only around 1 cm. Their size is directly related to the depth at which they live.

What is the Mariana Trench snailfish, and what makes it so unique?

The Mariana Trench snailfish is unique because it was discovered at the deepest point ever reached by humans, at over 8,000 meters deep. It has a transparent body, wing-like fins, and an eel-like tail, making it a particularly unusual creature.

What is the ghost shark, and why is it called that?

The ghost shark, also known as the blue chimaera, is a deep-sea species that has existed for over 400 million years. It is called a ghost shark because of its eerie, almost mythical appearance, which was thought to be made up of parts of different animals according to ancient Greek mythology.