Census of the deep maps the world's sea creatures

A dragonfish from Australia, which lives in permanent darkness and cold, where food is hard to find. For many animals at depth it may be weeks to months between meals – if they find something to eat, they have to hang on to it. This is why so many deep-sea fish have large teeth. This fish has teeth on its tongue. It would be a terrifying animal if it was not the size of a banana Photograph: Dr. Julian Finn/Museum of Victoria

Hydatinidae (red-lined paper bubble) off Cape Nomamisaki, Japan. This new species of hydatinid gastropod was discovered from a sperm whale carcass in the deep sea. Its tiny eyes are protected by cephalic shields Photograph: Yoshihiro Fujiwara/Jamstec

Ophiothrix suensonii. These nocturnal echinoderms are called sponge brittle stars. They are very common in the Caribbean. They are so-called because they are found exclusively either inside or outside living sponges Photograph: Cesar Herrera

Elpidia belyaevi, a new species of sea cucumber from the Arctic deep sea Photograph: Antonina Rogacheva/Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Moscow

Hermodice carunculata. The bearded fireworm is a type of bristleworm, with groups of white bristles along each side. The bristles are hollow, venom-filled chaeta which easily penetrate the flesh and break off if this worm is handled. They produce an intense burning irritation in the area of contact, hence the common name of the species. It is found in parts of the Caribbean Photograph: Eduardo Klein

Queen angelfish, Holacanthus ciliaris, near an oil rig in Texas waters, Gulf of Mexico Photograph: G Haralson/Texas A&M Press

Pelagic amphipod, Phronima sedentaria. It travels in a 'house' that is a cylindrical-shaped organism whose body has an opening on both ends. Gulf of Mexico Photograph: H Bahena/Texas A&M Press

A giant Caribbean anemone, Condylactis gigantea Photograph: Eduardo Klein/Eduardo Klein

Deep-sea jellyfish, Atolla wyvillei. When attacked by a predator, it creates light (bioluminescence) to 'scream' for help. Japan Photograph: ROV Hyper Dolphin/Jamstec

A zombie worm (Osedax roseus), Japan. This worm inhabits whale bones and devours them for energy. All Osedax males are dwarfs and live on the trunks of females Photograph: Yoshihiro Fujiwara/Jamstec

This deep-water octopus lives at -2700m, Alaminos Canyon, Gulf of Mexico Photograph: I MacDonald/Texas A&M Press

The sargassum fish (Histrio histrio) is a member of the frogfish family from South Korea. A group of small, globular fish with stalked, grasping, limb-like pectoral fins with small gill openings behind the base, a trapdoor-like mouth high on the head, and a 'fishing lure' (formed by the first dorsal spine) on the snout. Although the sargassum fish is capable of swimming quite rapidly, it often crawls through the sargassum weed, using its pectoral fins like arms Photo Credit: Dr. Sung Kim Photograph: Dr Sung Kim

Venus fly-trap sea anemone (Actinoscyphia Stephenson), found in the Gulf of Mexico, closes its tentacles to capture prey or to protect itself Photograph: I MacDonald/Texas A&M Press

Fucus radicans, a Baltic endemic seaweed that is believed to have formed as recently as about 400 years ago Photograph: Lena Bergstrom/Swedish Board of Fisheries

Branchiocerianthus imperator, a solitary hydroid. found in Japan at depths of 670m Photograph: HOV Shinkai 2000/Jamstec

Asteronyx loveni. A brittle star often associated with sea pens (a colonial marine animal), found near Japan, at 1,265m depths Photograph: HOV Shinkai 2000/Jamstec