Check Out the First Confirmed Footage of the Colossal Squid, a Rare and Enigmatic Deep-Sea Species
Most of what we know about the elusive creature comes from research on its remains found in whale stomachs, but scientists just filmed a one-foot-long juvenile in the South Atlantic Ocean
Wild Fish Can Tell Human Divers Apart Based on Their Outfits, Study Suggests
Using visual cues, including colors on wetsuits, seabream in the Mediterranean learned to identify researchers that would feed them
Mantis Shrimp Pack a Punch With the Force of a Bullet—and They Don’t Get Hurt. Here’s How
In a new study, scientists tested the complex layers in the animal’s clubs that serve as mighty shields to absorb the shock of the impact
Can a New DNA Database Help Save This Incredible Sea Turtle?
The shells of the hawksbill sea turtle have been used for luxury items for centuries, but with the species now endangered, new technology is pinpointing where protections are needed most
Hundreds of Sea Turtles With Hypothermia Are Washing Up in Cape Cod, Cold-Stunned as Temperatures Drop
New England Aquarium staff and volunteers are treating the reptiles, which have gotten trapped after venturing north earlier in the year. Experts say climate change is leading more turtles to get stranded in the bay
A Pod of Orcas Learned to Target and Feast on Whale Sharks, the Largest Fish in the Sea
Photos and videos of the apex predators reveal how they engage in coordinated hunts in Mexican waters to take down juvenile whale sharks
From Prolonging Wallaby Pregnancies to Disorienting Hatchling Turtles, 11 Ways Artificial Lights Affect Animals
From the busy cities to ocean waters, our need to illuminate the world has had some strange and tragic consequences
These Frankenstein-Like Sea Creatures Can Actually Fuse Their Bodies Together
Two comb jellies can merge their digestive and nervous systems and even sync their bodily functions, according to new research. The discovery could have implications for human medicine
Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries
Delight in These 15 Photos That Capture the Exotic Undersea Lives of Jellyfish
Despite their often dangerous stings, these creatures create serene scenes as they float through the deep sea
Watch Octopuses Team Up With Fish to Hunt—and Punch Those That Don’t Contribute
The collaboration across species reveals a surprising social behavior of octopuses, researchers say
Rare Jaw Fossils Discovered in Texas Shed Light on a 20-Foot-Long Mosasaur
Unearthed last year, the remains could reveal new information on the extinct sea reptile, which crushed mollusks and shelled creatures with its large, round teeth
Scientists Enlist the Help of Sea Lions to Reveal a Unique View of the Ocean Floor
Australian researchers glued satellite-linked GPS cameras to the animals’ backs to capture footage that could be vital to marine conservation efforts
How Deep-Sea Comb Jellies Hold Their Shape Under Crushing Pressure
The delicate sea creatures fall apart when brought to the surface but can survive miles deep in the ocean due to special cell wall structures, according to a new study
In This Ancient Workshop, Greeks Crushed Snail Glands to Make the Purple Dye Worn by Royalty
Archaeologists discovered remnants of the small factory on an island in Greece
Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries
You Ought to See These Otters
View 15 outstanding otter images from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest
Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries
Journey Under the Sea With 15 Amazing Photos of Marine Life
These Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest images feature the captivating creatures that live beneath the waves
Family Accidentally Ends Up With 50 Baby Octopuses After Their Pet—Thought to Be Male—Laid Dozens of Eggs
Now, the Oklahoma residents are working with aquariums and researchers that might take the babies
Dive Into the Exotic World of Nudibranchs, the Spectacular Slugs of the Sea
Psychedelic hedgehogs, purple pineapples, living strawberries—these tiny creatures show off their big personalities off the Australian coast
Why Did Seals and Sea Lions Never Commit to a Life Fully at Sea?
While whales moved from living on land to an existence immersed in water, pinnipeds embraced an amphibious lifestyle
Shells From Captain Cook’s Final Voyage Were Rescued From a Dumpster
Long presumed lost, the collection of rare shells is now on display in England
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