Marine species

Emiliania huxleyi - 08/06/2010

Emiliania huxleyi is one of the most beautiful and widespread single-celled organisms. Although it is minute, it can form huge oceanic algal blooms that can be seen from space. Find out more about this coccolithophore.
Malacosteus niger (stoplight loosejaw) - 03/06/2010

Find out about one of the most bizarre fishes ever discovered, the stoplight loosejaw. Quite monstrous in appearance, it has some unusual abilities.
Osedax mucofloris (bone-eating snot-flower worm) - 31/05/2010

The interestingly named bone-eating snot-flower worm, Osedax mucofloris, was discovered and described in 2005 after it was found living on whale bones on the sea floor. Find out more about this surprising discovery, and the big questions that it raised.
Calveriosoma gracile - 30/05/2010

The sea urchin Calveriosoma gracile is a deep sea species known from waters near the Philippines to the Sea of Japan. It is unusual among sea urchins for having a leathery skin with embedded plates rather than a rigid skeleton. Find out more about this species.
Metacrinus rotundus (Japanese sea lily) - 29/05/2010

Metacrinus rotundus is a crinoid species found off the west coast of Japan that has the ability to regenerate its arms and stalk. Since it lives at relatively shallow depths, it is vulnerable to coastal trawling. Find out more.
Physeter catodon (sperm whale) - 28/05/2010

The sperm whale, Physeter catodon, is the largest toothed predator on Earth, with males over 18m long and weighing up to 50,000kg. Found in oceans across the world, hunting has made the sperm whale vulnerable to extinction. Find out more about Physeter catodon.
Eupectella aspergillum (Venus' flower basket) - 27/05/2010

Euplectella aspergillum or Venus' flower baskets are deep sea animals known as glass sponges as their bodies are entirely composed of silica. These glass sponges are found deep in the South Pacific. Euplectella aspergillum was first described in 1841 by Sir Richard Owen who became the director of the Natural History Museum. Find out more about Venus' flower basket.
Agalma elegans - 26/05/2010

Agalma elegans, sometimes referred to as a string jelly, is an extremely transparent species. Coloured areas on its tentacles combined with an almost invisible feeding net help it to lure and then trap prey. It is found in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, and sometimes around the UK coast. Find out more about this species.
Phocoena phocoena (harbour porpoise) - 22/05/2010

The harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) is a fast swimming animal that generally avoids boats and other human activity. It is known from cool temperate to sub-polar waters in the northern hemisphere. There are an estimated 700,000 harbour porpoises globally, therefore the species is not currently a major conservation concern. However, a range of factors, including hunting and exploitation by humans, pose a threat its ongoing survival. Find out more.
Eunoe nodosa - 13/05/2010

Eunoe nodosa is an epi-benthic species of polychaete worm that can be found on marine sediments from the sub-littoral zone to 1,260 meters of water. Find out more about Eunoe nodosa and the project underway to make the Museum's polychaete type collections more accessible.
Lottia gigantea (owl limpet) - 17/05/2010

Lottia gigantea is a protandric hermaphrodite species of limpet and the largest patellogastropod in North America. The females of the species exhibit a particularly dominating behaviour, being highly territorial and protective of their feeding spaces. Find out more about Lottia gigantea (owl limpet).
Rasta lamyi - 05/05/2010

Rasta lamyi is a weird-looking, marine bivalve mollusc with long shaggy extensions. Rasta lamyi lives in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea.Find out more about Rasta lamyi and what threatens its survival.
Aphanius iberus (Spanish toothcarp) - 04/05/2010

Aphanius iberus (fartet, the Iberian toothcarp) is a small, sexually dimorphic species of fish restricted to the eastern Spanish coastline. The species is currently classified as Endangered and faces threats relating to its limited and isolated distribution as well as a range of threats to its habitat. Find out more about Aphanius iberus.
Architeuthis dux (giant squid) - 09/04/2010

Thought to reach lengths of up to 15m, the giant squid is currently the largest known cephalopod. Specimens have been found in all of the world's oceans and the Museum has one in its collections which can be seen as part of the free Spirit Collections Tour. Find out more about this giant of the deep sea, as featured on the Museum of Life.
Phoca vitulina (harbour seal) - 04/04/2010

Harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) are frequently seen around the UK coastline, where they spend much of their time in the water. Tagging devices are used to monitor and track their movements. The species is vulnerable to viral distemper which has caused mass fatalities in the past. Find out more about this species.
Cinctipora elegans - 23/03/2010

Cinctipora elegans is a bryozoan species found on the sea-bed around New Zealand. It currently faces threats from trawling and ocean acidification. Find out more.
Conopeum seurati - 13/03/2010

Conopeum seurati is found in estuarine habitats from Northern Europe to as far as New Zealand. Find out more about this bryozoan.
Coelopleurus (Keraiophorus) exquisitus - 08/03/2010

Coelopleurus (Keraiophorus) exquisitus is a sea urchin known only from the waters around New Caledonia. It has a striking pattern and colouration, however given the deep waters in which it lives, a reason for these is currently a mystery. Find out more about this species.
Anthosoma crassum - 04/03/2010

Anthosoma crassum is a copepod crustacean and a parasite of fish, particularly sharks. Find out more about how Anthosoma crassum feeds on the tissues and blood of its hosts.
Platynereis dumerilii - 07/07/2010

Platynereis dumerilii is a small, tube-dwelling species of marine worm that is regarded as a model organism for scientific research. Studying the eyespots of Platynereis dumerilii larvae is probably the closest scientists can get to figuring out what eyes looked like when they first evolved. Find out more.
Manunema kithara (nematode worm) - 11/07/2010

This free-living nematode worm was discovered in Kuwait in 2004 and named after an ancient Greek musical instrument. Find out more about Manunema kithara and nematode worms, the most abundant multicelluar animals on Earth.
Lingula anatina - 06/02/2010

This primitive brachiopod has often been referred to as a living fossil (having changed little over time), however recent studies suggest otherwise. Find out more about the interesting Lingula anatina.
Thatcheria mirabilis (Japanese wonder shell) - 01/02/2010

Also known as the Japanese wonder shell, Thatcheria mirabilis can be found in deep waters from 60 to 400 metres. Find out more about this interesting and once highly sought after species, including how it reportedly provided inspiration for a famous museum's design.
Diploria labyrinthiformis (grooved brain coral) - 18/01/2010

This species of brain coral lives in shallow water habitats. Like other corals with calcium carbonate skeletons, it is at risk from ocean acidification. Learn more.
Eucidaris metularia (sea urchin) - 08/01/2010

This sea urchin has survived the last 150 million years with little change. Find out more about Eucidaris metularia.
Turbo marmoratus (great green turban shell) - 03/01/2010

Find out more about the large marine snail Turbo marmoratus, whose numbers in the wild have been depleted due to fishing for its attractive shell.