Flower of the deep

The deep ocean is home to hundreds of species with soft, jelly-like tissues. Many of these gelatinous animals are transparent, and many are beautiful. Siphonophores, such as the one pictured, are closely related to jellyfish. But instead of one umbrella-shaped bell, they are made of multiple units specialized for feeding, swimming, or reproduction—each “petal” of this animal is one of these repeating parts. Such modular construction allows some deep-sea siphonophores to grow to more than 100 feet long. (Photo by Larry Madin, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)