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Facts about ocean creatures and other animals
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00:00In the past 30 years, scientists have made an incredible discovery of a new creature living deep beneath the surface
00:07of the ocean.
00:08And the name of the creature is the Harp Sponge.
00:11Now, if you're wondering why it took so long to come across this animal, then I might have the answer.
00:16These creatures typically hang out at a depth of roughly 11,100 feet beneath the ocean's waves.
00:22This sponge species was first discovered off the coast of California thanks to a robot that was sturdy enough to
00:29explore those crazy depths the ocean has to offer.
00:32This is no doubt an area of the planet where even the most benign-looking creatures can be potentially dangerous.
00:39But even scientists were surprised to find that this creature was more than just a sponge.
00:44Now, this might seem obvious, but the Harp Sponge got its name because its basic structure, referred to as a
00:51vein, is the same shape as a harp.
00:54Each vein is made up of a horizontal branch, supporting several parallel vertical branches.
01:00But don't let the Harp Sponge's fanciful and amusing appearance or its non-intimidating name fool you.
01:06Yeah, the Harp Sponge is very much a deep-sea hunter.
01:10It has a unique ability to capture and envelop small animals using its rhizoids, short, thin fibers.
01:18With their help, the Harp Sponge clings on to the soft, muddy bottom and catches tiny creatures that get swept
01:24into its branches by deep-sea currents.
01:26Uh-oh.
01:27Other sponge creatures often feed by pulling bacteria and bits of organic matter from the seawater and filtering them through
01:34their bodies.
01:35But not our Harp Sponge.
01:38Instead, it snatches its future meal with minuscule barbed hooks that cover each of the Harp Sponge's branches.
01:45Now, Harp Sponge's prefer tiny crustaceans, like crabs, crayfish, shrimps, and prawns.
01:51Once the Harp Sponge has one of them in its clutches, it envelops the animal in a thin membrane before
01:58slowly beginning to digest it.
02:00So, pal, what's eating you?
02:02Oh, Harpo? Too bad.
02:04Researchers believe that Harp Sponge's use this method of feeding because there aren't enough nutrients that deep down.
02:11This makes traditional filter feeding less effective.
02:14Research has shown that the creature is still in the process of evolving.
02:18Early Harp Sponge's, researchers found, only had two veins.
02:22But later, scientists discovered other Harp Sponge's that had six veins.
02:26The Harp Sponge might have evolved this elaborate candle-holder-like structure to increase its surface area.
02:33In general, Harp Sponge's typically grow up to a length of one foot.
02:37But researchers have seen a creature that was two feet in length.
02:41The Harp Sponge is not only very unusual, but also beautiful to look at.
02:46See those tiny white balls on top of the branches?
02:49Now, why don't we look at some other creatures that live below the photic zone of Earth's oceans.
02:55The photic zone means the area beneath the ocean's surface that still receives some sunlight.
03:00Thanks to this, there are loads of different creatures and organisms living there.
03:05Any animal living beyond this layer qualifies as a deep-sea creature.
03:10The Tomopterus worm is a segmented worm you can find in the twilight zone of the ocean.
03:15This is the area that lies between 650 and 3,300 feet beneath the surface.
03:21These creatures are often no more than one inch long, but the largest of them can grow up to one
03:26foot.
03:27While swimming around and feeding, these worms do what researchers describe as an amazing smooth dance.
03:34That's because the creatures can swim extremely quickly and maneuver at tight angles with ease.
03:40Now, I know most people hear the word worm and think of the common earthworm.
03:44So, it's quite interesting to know there's a deep-sea worm out there that never leaves the water during its
03:50entire life.
03:52Similarly, most of us try to avoid jellyfish that either rest on the sand or sit on top of the
03:57ocean waves.
03:58This isn't the case with a Crosota jelly.
04:01That's a deep-sea creature, too.
04:02This beautiful jellyfish is mostly ruby red, bright orange, or electric purple.
04:08That's what helped researchers realize they had found a new species of jellyfish.
04:13The creature grows to a maximum size of one inch across.
04:17It has tentacles that stretch out in every direction.
04:20Now, if you come close to this jellyfish, it'll pull all these tentacles in toward its body before rapidly swimming
04:27away to avoid danger.
04:28Yes, you are dangerous.
04:30The Crosota jelly is extremely rare.
04:33You won't see it very often.
04:34You might need to borrow that deep-sea diving robot I mentioned earlier.
04:38While worms and jellyfish might seem quite harmless, this isn't the case with the Pacific Viperfish.
04:45This creature is equipped with a noticeably big mouth, like me.
04:50And the needle-like teeth inside are key to its hunting strategy.
04:54Pacific Viperfish live at around 5,000 feet below the ocean's surface.
04:58But they're among those numerous marine animals that migrate each night from the ocean depths toward shallower waters to dine.
05:07What's on the menu for dinner tonight?
05:09Hmm, lots of small fish and shrimp.
05:12The creature can grow up to 12 inches in length.
05:15Its two front fangs, which stick up from the fish's bottom jaw past its own eyes, are especially dramatic.
05:21When the fish unhinges its jaw, its mouth can open wide enough to engulf smaller animals.
05:27And the teeth form a cage to prevent an escape.
05:31Now, have you ever seen an underwater creature that looks like a strawberry?
05:35Trust me, it does exist.
05:37Just look at these dots on the strawberry squid.
05:40The creature has a big eye and a smaller one.
05:43You might think this unconventional pairing would be awkward and uncomfortable.
05:47But it's actually the opposite.
05:49The big left eye looks upward.
05:52It spots shadows cast by other animals in the dimly-lit waters above.
05:56The eye's tubular shape helps it collect as much light as possible.
06:00On the other side of the squid's head, you can see its right eye.
06:04It's small and looks downward.
06:06This eye searches for flashes of bioluminescence produced by animals lurking in the darker waters below.
06:13Now, bioluminescence means the production and emission of light by living organisms.
06:18By the way, the squid has a nickname.
06:21And no, it's not Squiggy, although that's a great one.
06:24It's known as the cockeyed squid.
06:27This is simply due to the remarkable difference in size between its two eyes.
06:32Hmm, I think I like Squiggy better.
06:34And so it goes.
06:35Since light doesn't reach the deep sea, the strawberry squid's body actually looks black.
06:40This helps the creature hide from enemies, such as sharks and dolphins.
06:45In general, the strawberry squid grows to a length of 5 inches.
06:49It typically lives around 3,000 feet below the surface, but floats to shallower waters at night.
06:55Now, the feather star is a marine creature without a backbone, but with feather-like arms that radiate from the
07:02center of its body.
07:03These creatures first appeared around 200 million years ago.
07:07Related to sea stars, they look like a flower.
07:10But if you approach them, they'll quickly swim away.
07:14But not all feather stars can swim.
07:16Many species can only crawl along the bottom of the seafloor.
07:20Like some of the other deep-sea creatures we've looked at, the feather star can adapt to its surroundings.
07:25It has a creepy ability to shed its arms.
07:28The same way some lizards can shed their tails.
07:31This also helps them escape from their enemies.
07:34Feather stars live all across the globe, from the equator to the poles, from the shallow waters on top of
07:40reefs, to the deep, deep sea.
07:43Now, given that we're dealing with mysterious creatures, the name of this one is quite fitting.
07:48The swift vampire squid should be the official symbol of life in the deep sea.
07:53The animal has a dark red body, huge blue eyes, and a cloak-like web that stretches between its eight
08:00arms.
08:01This, along with its name, may suggest that the creature is some form of a terrifying hunter.
08:07In reality, though, the vampire squid is a soft-body, timid creature, about the size, shape, and color of a
08:14football.
08:14It grows to roughly 12 inches in length and lives 3,000 feet below the waves.
08:20There's almost no oxygen there, but also relatively few predators.
08:25Whew! I think I'll need to decompress from this one.
08:29If you think your folks were too harsh on you, perhaps this list of negligent animals will show you a
08:35broader perspective on bad parenting.
08:39Female horses, or mares, have a gestation period of about a year.
08:44This might sound like a terribly long time, but elephants won't agree with that.
08:48They carry their young for up to 22 months before giving birth.
08:53Unlike the other animals who prefer to rest waiting for their cub to arrive, for mares, pregnancy means party time!
09:00The moment the female horse gets pregnant, she goes for a walk around the herd and mates with every stallion.
09:07Although it seems meaningless because she's already pregnant, there's a reasonable explanation.
09:12The male horses are pretty proud and aggressive with their rivals.
09:16But if a stallion would think that a brand new foal is his, the chances that he will hurt the
09:22youngling will fall to zero.
09:23So the mare's actual intention is to keep the foal safe by making it impossible for stallions to determine the
09:30real father.
09:31Which is a good mothering quality.
09:33That's why mares are at the bottom of our list.
09:37Female cuckoo birds are famous for abandoning their chicks before even hatching.
09:42They simply lay eggs in other birds' nests and leave for good.
09:46It's hard to distinguish native eggs from foundlings.
09:49That's why the unlucky foster birds incubate them all equally.
09:54Meanwhile, cuckoo birds even enjoy their single independent lives.
09:58Unfortunately, it's not a win-win deal.
10:01The cuckoo chick brings chaos and losses to the foster parents.
10:04It grows faster and hatches earlier.
10:07Making the smaller purebred chicks fall out of the nest.
10:13Sparrows are so cute, but don't buy into this innocent little face.
10:17A female house sparrow is a good, caring mom, but also a furious stepmother, who might terrify even Cinderella.
10:25Sparrows are typically monogamous, but sometimes they can have connections outside the native nest.
10:31When it happens, a female sparrow can literally figure out the other women that mated with their partner and destroy
10:38their nests.
10:39Why?
10:40Just to make sure the male sparrow will have enough time to father her own offspring.
10:44Apparently, they haven't heard of babysitters.
10:50Harp seals are dedicated to their pups during the first two weeks, so they can't be called the worst mothers
10:56in the animal kingdom.
10:57In this short period, they keep their offspring close, nursing and feeding them round the clock.
11:04But after that, mother seals say goodbye and leave the younger generation alone on the ice.
11:10Seal pups are still very vulnerable because they don't know how to swim, hunt, or protect themselves.
11:16They should be at least two months old to learn all those skills.
11:19So, they spend this time waiting, losing weight, and trying not to get eaten by predators.
11:25It's no wonder that only one-third of all little seals actually make it through the first year of life.
11:34Hamsters are harmless, cuddly, and cute, right?
11:37But still, they have one dark secret that can shock their owners if no one warns them.
11:43In some cases, hamster females may confuse their own offspring with dinner.
11:48Nobody knows exactly why, but scientists have developed several theories.
11:53Some suggest that they're trying to replenish nutrients after giving birth.
11:57Others claim that mother hamsters might feel stressed and threatened by too large a litter.
12:02So, this action is a self-protection mechanism in a way.
12:05To avoid this sad ending, experts recommend keeping the mother hamster away from any stress and giving her all necessary
12:12nutrients.
12:17All or nothing is probably the favorite motto of black bears.
12:22They usually have two or three cubs at a time.
12:25But if a mother bear only has one cub for some reason, she's likely to abandon it, hoping for a
12:31larger litter the next year.
12:33Why?
12:34Probably because raising only one baby isn't worth the effort.
12:38That's a strange kind of laziness.
12:41And while a black bear cub may increase the chances of survival by having a sibling, pandas follow the opposite
12:47tradition.
12:48It's hard to admit, but these cute fluffy fellows are pretty negligent parents.
12:53Panda mothers usually have twins, but they prefer taking care of only one of them.
12:58They will feed and nurse the strongest cub.
13:01Meanwhile, the weakest one will be neglected and forced to survive on its own.
13:06The explanation for their cruelty is pretty practical.
13:10Pandas eat bamboo, but it's not nutritious enough to make milk for both cubs.
13:15Even pandas that live in the zoo follow the same tradition of abandonment.
13:19But thankfully, zookeepers provide all the cubs with milk equally.
13:28Although monkeys usually have the reputation of caring, responsible parents, these little mustache cuties stand out.
13:35After a gestation period of around five months, the mother tamarind usually gives birth to twins.
13:41And if they happen to fall out of the tree by the stake, she will have the nerve to ignore
13:45her own cub's crime.
13:48Some of them can throw the cubs out of the tree voluntarily for unknown reasons.
13:53Who knows what hides in those little heads?
13:56But not all of them are so cold-hearted.
13:58If a mother tamarind is surrounded by a wide social group of strong food providers and protectors,
14:04she's likely to take good care of her offspring.
14:07But when no one's watching or helping, she can stop making any effort.
14:11Probably because the cubs won't have a high chance of survival anyway.
14:16Although mustache tamarinds look like great pet material,
14:20experts claim that these monkeys require more daily commitment and dedication than any other pet.
14:25Well, at least you're too heavy to kick out of the tree.
14:32Bunnies are usually associated with warm hugs and cuddles.
14:36But in real life, they're not so gentle when it comes to their own newborns.
14:40Rabbit mothers prefer leaving the burrow as soon as they give birth.
14:45And these cute little bunnies have to learn to face life challenges on their own.
14:50They only interact with their mother for a few minutes a day during feedings.
14:56Scientists suggest that the female rabbit abandons her offspring to confuse predators and keep them away.
15:02Of course, this method doesn't provide a 100% guarantee.
15:06After all, the rabbit mothers don't put much effort into creating a safe shelter for the cubs.
15:12They usually build it out in the open.
15:15And where's the happy father, I hear you ask?
15:18Well, it's recommended to isolate the mother from any male rabbits while she raises the newborns.
15:24Unlike the horses, male rabbits will probably not hurt the younglings.
15:27But he can impregnate the female rabbit again, even on the same day she gives birth.
15:35Reptiles aren't known for being warm and caring creatures.
15:38And their practical approach to life extends to their parenting style as well.
15:43But long-tailed skinks bring personal boundaries protection to the next level.
15:48This mother lizard will eat her own eggs when too many predators gather around her home.
15:53She won't make any effort to fight off the danger.
15:56Perhaps her philosophy is, if I can't have it, no one will.
16:01After the threat is gone, they'll just live on and lay new eggs.
16:06The female eagle lays two to three eggs within a week.
16:10After around a month of the breeding period, the eaglets finally emerge.
16:14But their problems are only getting started.
16:17Technically, all eggs have slightly different ages, so they don't hatch simultaneously.
16:22And when it comes to sibling competition, black eagles can get pretty aggressive towards younger chicks.
16:28The older chicks usually start to peck the younger before they even get the chance to start their lives.
16:34Probably to reduce the competition for food and space.
16:37But the eagle mommy won't bother to pull apart her chicks, even if their fight leads to serious injuries.
16:44She would neither scold the winner nor save the loser.
16:48Apparently, her indifferent attitude should prepare the chicks for the harsh life of an adult eagle.
16:54After all, it's a bird of prey.
16:55And it keeps the habit of hunting mammals and other birds at their nests throughout life.
17:03The animal kingdom is filled with impressive horns and tusks.
17:07They vary a lot in size and shape, but some stand out for just how huge they are.
17:12The longest horns of any living animal belong to the Asian water buffalo of India, Nepal, and Thailand.
17:19Males carry enormous backward crescent-shaped horns that are embellished with deep ridges.
17:25They grow to an average length of close to 5 feet long, and sometimes grow so large that they almost
17:31touch.
17:32In 1955, researchers found a bull that took it one step further.
17:37These particular horns measured nearly 14 feet from tip to tip.
17:41So large that they even got the blue ribbon from the Guinness World Records.
17:46Wild water buffalo are formidable mammals that use their horns to protect themselves.
17:51They're not even afraid to face off with tigers and lions.
17:54Being so large, you wouldn't think they'd be fast, too.
17:58But when frightened, water buffalo can reach speeds of 30 miles per hour.
18:05Addax are white antelopes that decided to call the Sahara Desert their home.
18:09Over time, they developed a striking white coat that helps them to reflect the scorching desert sun.
18:15The Addax are also known as the screwhorn antelopes, and they earned their nickname well.
18:21Their horns are long, between 3 feet and 4 feet, and twisted like the thread of a screw.
18:28They're one of the few species in the world where both the buck and doe have horns of the same
18:34size.
18:34Addax also possesses wide, flat hooves, slightly upturned, helping prevent them from sinking into all that soft desert sand.
18:45Jackson chameleons.
18:46That's right, lizards.
18:48Surprised?
18:49Were you expecting a cow or antelope again?
18:51Not only are they true horns, just like the ones on the Addax, made out of bone and using them
18:57for the same purpose,
18:58jousting with other males and pushing them out of treetops.
19:02Those three horns on their head make this species look a little like a tiny Triceratops.
19:07That's why they're also known as the three-horned chameleon.
19:11Like other chameleons, their tongue is usually one and a half times the chameleon's body length.
19:17That'd be like a six-foot person having a tongue that's nine feet long.
19:21You know a caterpillar's tough-looking when even chickens don't want to take a nibble.
19:26They usually eat anything.
19:28Despite this prickly caterpillar's menacing appearance, the hickory-horned devil caterpillar is entirely harmless.
19:35The caterpillar molts four times before turning into its terrifying final form.
19:41A beast covered with black spines that run down the length of its body.
19:45Its head is adorned with long orange horns, tipped with black.
19:49To top all of this off, it's enormous for a caterpillar, the largest in North America.
19:55Before it transitions to its adult phase, it can reach the size of a hot dog.
20:00It resembles a terrifying green dragon more than an insect.
20:05Surprisingly, they're not poisonous in any way.
20:08The spines aren't very sharp and even feel flexible to the touch, if you're not too scared off by its
20:14appearance.
20:15Horned guans, great hornbills, and horned puffets all have very impressive headwear that would make most other birds extremely jealous.
20:23But no bird wears head ornamentation that looks more like a horn than the cassowary.
20:29The cask, as it's called, is made of a sponge-like material and covered with a thick layer of keratin.
20:36That's the same material that human hair is made from.
20:38The end result is a formation on the head that kind of resembles a helmet.
20:43Although it may seem quite sturdy and robust, the horn can be squeezed in the middle fairly easily.
20:49But I wouldn't recommend it.
20:52Native to the tropical forests of Southeast Asia and Australia,
20:56cassowaries can stand over 6 feet tall and weigh as much as 130 pounds.
21:01While they do have beautiful colors and look friendly, they'll have a mean streak if cornered.
21:08Rhinoceros beetles get all the attention with their horn-like projections that can be found on the males' heads.
21:14They're ridiculously strong, with adults of some species able to lift objects 850 times their weight.
21:22Their use of this extreme strength is a bit less exciting, though,
21:26with most species using it to dig into leaf litter and soil to escape or hide.
21:31Their horns help them push all the dirt and debris out of the way.
21:35But the most beautiful and interesting horn belongs to the rainbow scarab's male.
21:40This species is easily identified by its metallic appearance
21:44and the large horn that grows out from its head and curves back over itself.
21:49These might even be so amazing that they rival the rhinos they were named after.
21:55Fancy horns are great for display purposes,
21:57But you know that an animal with 15 sticking out of its face has some serious defenses.
22:03Like the horned dinosaur Cosmoseratops,
22:06which lived approximately 76 million years ago in the late Cretaceous period.
22:11It had horns all over its face.
22:14Ten spiky horns lined the edge of its bony frill, protecting its vulnerable neck.
22:19There were long, sharp horns above each eye,
22:22a horn extending from each cheek,
22:24and a single blunt horn on its nose.
22:27A lot more than its famous cousin, the Triceratops, that's for sure.
22:32The unicorn of the sea, a pale-colored porpoise called the narwhal,
22:37is found in Arctic coastal waters and rivers.
22:40They come from the same sea mammal family as dolphins and killer whales,
22:44but their horn really makes them stand out.
22:46This unique horn, or oversized tooth, can reach 10 feet long.
22:52The sword-like spiral tusk grows right out of the narwhal's lip,
22:56and scientists aren't sure of the tusk's purpose.
22:59Some believe it's used to impress females,
23:02like having a top hat or a fancy haircut.
23:05It might even be to battle rival males.
23:07It looks like it might hurt a little, too.
23:10Females can sometimes grow a small tusk of their own,
23:13but it doesn't ever become as large as the males.
23:17Being part of the boxfish family, which includes the infamous pufferfish,
23:21the longhorn cowfish is very recognizable for its long horns.
23:25They protrude from the front of its head,
23:28making the fish look weirdly similar to a cow.
23:31It's believed to have evolved these to make it just that little bit more difficult
23:35for predators to swallow, allowing a quick getaway.
23:39They'll even grow the horns back if they lose them, too.
23:41Their unique method of swimming causes them to look as if they're just hovering in the water.
23:47It might not be the best style, though,
23:49because cowfish are such slow swimmers that they're easily caught by hand.
23:53But be careful.
23:55Like the pufferfish, when stressed,
23:57this species can produce poison in their skin as well.
24:01It's hard to imagine a 200-pound animal with enormous horns nimbly climbing up a tree,
24:07but that's precisely what the Markar does.
24:10As one of the largest species of wild goat found across Western and Central Asia,
24:15it's their impressive horns that get all the attention.
24:18They grow to about 5 feet long.
24:20The horns spiral out from the goat's skull, like corkscrews.
24:24The goats use these to dig for roots and other food and remove bark from trees.
24:29Males will also use their long horns to win a female during the mating season
24:34by butting heads with other males that they encounter.
24:37Golden eagles have even been reported trying to catch young Markar,
24:41only to have the mothers using their horns to scare away the winged predators.
24:46You can find this next creature in the mountainous regions known as the European Alps.
24:51The Capra ibex, also called the Alpine ibex, has its own imposing set of horns.
24:58The male ibex has remarkably strong, curling horns, growing to lengths of 40 inches,
25:04while the females have shorter and thinner horns, measuring at about 13 inches in length.
25:09During mating season, the male uses their large horns to headbutt rivals for territory.
25:15And with such defensive horns, predators like wolves, bears, and lynxes
25:19have a very clear warning to get out of the way.
25:23Sensing danger around them, they'll raise up on their powerful hind legs
25:27while pointing their horns toward the would-be ibex eater.
25:31When you hear the word horn, one animal should immediately come to mind, and it's a big one.
25:36The largest of the rhino family, the white rhino, has two distinctive horns,
25:41one longer front horn and a smaller back one.
25:44The bigger horn can grow up to 59 inches.
25:48These amazing horns are made from a protein called keratin,
25:52the same thing that makes scales, hair, nails, claws, and hooves.
25:57Traveling in groups, or crashes as they prefer to be called,
26:00these 5,500-pound animals can somehow run up to 25 miles an hour.
26:05If you want an idea of what that would be like,
26:08imagine 300 bowling balls rolling towards you at that speed.
26:13The seaule first made its presence known to the world in May 1992,
26:18with researchers and scientists finding them way up into the mountains of Vietnam and Laos.
26:23Since then, it's only been photographed a handful of times.
26:27Little is known about these creatures.
26:29That's why they have the nickname of Asian unicorn,
26:32only because they're such a rare sight to see.
26:35Seaule have striking white markings on their face,
26:38but they're more recognized by the two 20-inch parallel horns that shoot up from their crown.
26:43These have razor-sharp ends and are found on both the males and females of the species.
26:49They might look like an antelope or a deer,
26:51but they're actually more closely related to cattle.
26:56Unicorn fish aren't as magical as the mythical horse,
26:59well, that we're aware of anyway.
27:01These interesting fish have a frontal horn,
27:04almost like a long spike, protruding from their forehead.
27:07The horn-like appendage begins growing between their eyes
27:10when they reach about 5 inches in length
27:12and tend to be slightly more prominent on males.
27:16Biologists are still unsure what the purpose of the horn is,
27:19as it isn't used for defense.
27:21For that, the unicorn fish uses its sharp tail spines
27:25against other males and predators.
27:27While you might never see the fabled horse with a horn on its forehead,
27:31keep an eye out on your next dive,
27:33and you just might see a herd of these unicorns cleaning up the area.
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