Growing up as a benthic baby can be challenging in the deep sea

Growing up on the deep seafloor is a remarkable feat. Being a benthic baby can be challenging in such an expansive home. Just like life on land, animals at the bottom of the ocean have adapted many ways to safeguard their young. From octopuses that shield their eggs until they hatch to snails that make a myriad of elaborate towers, seafloor animals work hard so their babies grow and thrive in their deep-sea community. By doing our part to defend ocean health, we can help ensure they have a safe place to grow up. Learn more about other fascinating animals of the deep: Find out what you can do to help turn the tide on the biggest threats facing the ocean from our partner the Monterey Bay Aquarium: Animals in order of appearance: 0:00 Bubblegum coral (Paragorgia arborea) and yellow Picasso sponge (Staurocalyptus) | 1,300 meters (4,265 feet) | Davidson Seamount 0:07 Aurora rockfish (Sebastes aurora) | 401 meters (1,316 feet) | Baja California 0:14 Fish-eating star (Stylasterias forreri) eating catshark egg cases | 251 meters (823 feet) | Monterey Bay 0:22 Acorn worm (Tergivelum baldwinae) | 3,952 meters (12,965 feet) | Station M 0:29 Warty deep-sea octopus (Graneledone boreopacifica) | 1400 meters (4,593 feet) | Monterey Canyon 0:38 Warty deep-sea octopus (Graneledone boreopacifica) | 1,254 meters (4,114 feet) | Sur Ridge 0:43 Blacktail snailfish (Careproctus melanurus) on tanner crab (Chionoecetes tanneri) |1,910 meters (6,266 feet) | Monterey Canyon 0:50 Blacktail snailfish (Careproctus melanurus) on tanner crab (Chionoecetes tanneri) | 886 meters (2,907 feet) | Monterey Canyon 0:58 Snailfish (family Liparidae) | 1,381 meters (4,531 feet) | Sur Ridge 1:03 Arbiter snailfish (Careproctus kamikawai) | 1,129 meters (3,704 feet) | Monterey Bay 1:07 Sea pig (Scotoplanes sp.) with king crab (family Lithodidae) | 1,282 meters (4,206 feet) | Monterey Bay 1:12 Sea pig (Scotoplanes sp.) with king crab (family Lithodidae) | 1,286 meters (4,219 feet) | Monterey Bay 1:17 King crab (family Lithodidae) | 1,653 meters (5,423 feet) | Davidson Seamount 1:22 Deep-sea whelk (family Buccinidae) | 947 meters (3,107 feet) | Sur Ridge 1:29 Skate egg case | 980 meters (3,215 feet) | Sur Ridge 1:34 Roughtail skate (Bathyraja trachura) | 1,023 meters (3,356 feet) | Sur Ridge 1:42 Babysitter snail (Neptunea amianta) 1:47 Babysitter snail (Neptunea amianta) on tubeworms (Lamellibranchia sp.) | 1,328 meters (4,356 feet) | Pacific Northwest 1:52 Babysitter snail (Neptunea amianta) | 902 Meters (2,959 feet) | Pacific Northwest 1:58 Flapjack octopus (Opisthoteuthis sp.) | 403 meters (1,322 feet) | Monterey Bay 2:05 Skate egg case | 1,677 meters (5,502 feet) | Pacific Northwest Producer/editor/writer: Larissa Lemon Production team: Kyra Schlining, Nancy Jacobsen Stout, Susan von Thun Music: Spring Mood by Brain Alien