Scientists found this strange creature (yes, it's a worm) in shallow waters near a tropical island. The spiral "branches" are actually the worm's breathing and feeding apparatus.

Stonefish are the most venomous fish in the world - their venom is capable of killing an adult person in less than an hour. They are sluggish and live in mineral-rich mud (mud flats).

A mother turtle digs a nest on the shore and lays her eggs in it. The process takes takes 1-3 hours in the middle of the night, after which the mother turtle slowly drags herself back to the ocean.

Black dragonfish are monstrous-looking, scaleless fish with very sharp, fang-like teeth. These fish have specialized organs known as photophores that produce light.

Frogfish have an array of stripes, spots, warts, and other skin anomalies that help them blend in with their colorful, diverse surroundings.

Known as gentle giants, whale sharks filter-feed, swimming with their wide mouths open, collecting plankton and small fish.

Burrfish lay their eggs in this ecosystem, because it has abundant plant life, which provides a safe place for young fish to live before swimming back into the ocean.

Marine mussels are usually found clumping together on wave-washed rocks. When exposed to air, those in the middle of a clump will undergo less water loss.

Phytoplankton are abundant in this ecosystem, because they are buoyant and float in the upper part of the water.

The purple shore crab is found under rocks and among seaweed.

Nearly 1000 species of sea anemones lie within the tropics or where warm, tropical waters are carried by currents.

Vampire squid live in the oxygen minimum layer of the ocean where virtually no light penetrates