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Sea Nettles
Marine biologists from more
than 80 countries have spent
the last 10 years trying to
catalogue and count all forms
of sea life. The project, called
the Census of Marine Life,
concluded this year.
Census scientists divided
the ocean into six realms,
from coastal shores to icy
polar seas, and studied
the unique sea life in
each area.
Weddell Seals
During the census,
scientists counted more
than 230,000 species,
including about 6,000
previously unknown
ones. Still, the list is
nowhere near complete.
Scientists estimate
that millions of ocean
species exist.
Dumbo Octopus
Terrible-Claw
Lobster
Arctic
Jellyfish
Census researchers collected
and photographed thousands
of creatures like the ones
shown here that had never
been seen before.
Flamingo
Tongue Snail
Amphipod
Crustacean
Siphonophor
e
Many new species were found in hard-to-reach areas such as deep
ocean trenches. Others were discovered in places like coral reefs,
which scientists had studied for years. This siphonophore was
observed at a depth of 300 to 1,500 meters (1,000 to 5,000 feet).
Some of these creatures can reach 3 m (10 ft) in length!
Deep-sea
Octopus
Octopuses are a shell-less
type of mollusk related to
clams and snails. Mollusks,
crustaceans, and fish, make
up half of all ocean species.
• What is the Census of Marine Life?
• How did researchers go about
cataloguing ocean life?
• What are some of the main threats to
ocean biodiversity around the world?
To learn more about the Census
of Marine Life, watch this video.
Then read “Taking Stock of
Sea Life” in the November 822, 2010, issue of Science
World. Turn to page 14.
Acorn
Worm
Fangtooth Fish
What would life be like on a reef or
in the dark waters of the deep sea?
Write a short story from the point
of view of one of the creatures
mentioned in the PowerPoint or
article. Research to find facts about
your organism’s life to include. For
example: Where does your organism
live? What does it eat? Does it have
any cool adaptations? What threats
does it face?
Slide1: ©Richard Hermann- Galatée films; Slide2: ©Gary Cranitch-Queensland Museum ; Slide3: ©Galatée Films ;
Slide4: ©David Shale /naturepl.com ; Slide5: ©Tin-Yam Chan, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung (lobster), ©Kevin Raskoff (jellyfish),
©Kacy Moody (snail), ©Cédric d’Udekem d’Acoz (crustacean); Slide6: ©Kevin Raskoff; Slides 7-9: ©David Shale /naturepl.com.