Natural World Facts | Into the Abyss: Creatures of the Midwater

In the deep ocean, life is divided between very different worlds inhabited by weird and wonderful deep sea creatures. In the midwater, pelagic wanderers tread migratory routes that span entire oceans, and planktonic drifters and their predators take part in bioluminescent light shows. It is separated into zones based on depth, including the sunlight zone (epipelagic), twilight zone (mesopelagic), midnight zone (bathypelagic), abyssal and hadal zones.

And below, lies the deep sea floor. A kingdom of mud and ooze, where sessile creatures cling to any solid outcrop and corals craft kingdoms on the seamount crusts.

The worlds of the deep sea could not be more different, and yet their stories are fundamentally intertwined. In this episode, we delve into the Midnight Zone and the Twilight Zone, where anglerfish, giant sharks, and bioluminescent wonders are found traversing the void. Join as we uncover fascinating deep ocean facts and mysteries.

This film features only real footage of deep sea creatures. It is the combination of my Twilight Zone and Midnight Zone films, featuring re-recorded narration and updated visuals. You can find the episodes on my channel individually as well.

Written, narrated and edited by me, Leo Richards. This channel (Natural World Facts) is a solo passion project dedicated to exploring the wonders of the natural world and telling stories that inspire! I'm so excited to share this series with you at last.

00:00:00 - Introduction to The Deep Sea

00:03:40 - Prologue: Remotely Operated Vehicles

00:04:54 - Chapter 1.1 - The Epipelagic Zone (Sunlight Zone)

00:06:55 - Chapter 1.2 - The Mesopelagic Zone (Twilight Zone)

00:08:41 - Chapter 1.3 - Deep Sea Bioluminescence

00:10:14 - Chapter 1.4 - Deep Sea Plankton

00:13:37 - Chapter 1.5 - Jellyfish Life Cycles

00:14:34 - Chapter 1.6 - Mesopelagic Jellyfish

00:15:41 - Chapter 1.7 - Mesopelagic Nekton

00:20:40 - Chapter 1.8 - Camouflage in the Twilight Zone

00:25:04 - [Sponsored Interlude]

00:26:22 - Chapter 1.9 - The Diel Vertical Migration

00:32:44 - Chapter 2.1 - The Bathypelagic Zone (Midnight Zone)

00:36:04 - Chapter 2.2 - Ctenophores (Comb Jellies)

00:37:52 - Chapter 2.3 - Deep Sea Anglerfish

00:39:29 - Chapter 2.4 - Fusiform, Compressiform & Globiform Fish

00:41:48 - Chapter 2.5 - Anguilliform Fish

00:44:36 - Chapter 2.6 - Camouflage in Midnight Zone Fish

00:48:38 - Chapter 2.7 - Mesmerising Deep Sea Cephalopods

01:00:21 - Chapter 2.8 - Larvae & Hitchhikers in the Bathypelagic

01:09:11 - Chapter 2.9 - Jellyfish & Siphonophores

01:15:46 - Nutrient Cycles in the Deep Sea

01:20:56 - The Deep Sea Floor