Icon from a picrew by grgikau. Call me Tir or Julian. 37. He/They. Queer. Twitter: @tirlaeyn. ao3: tirlaeyn. 18+ Only. Star Trek. Sandman. IwtV. OMFD. Definitionless in this Strict Atmosphere.
Creepy? But amazing!! They survive in these extreme pressures with virtually no light and very little heat except around thermal vents. Imagine living so far underwater that sunlight no longer penetrates. Evolving to require such pressure to the point that your body falls apart as you are taken to the surface. All of that is down there right now! Infinite amounts of animals (and plants? And protozoa? Who even knows?) undiscovered, just living their lives. The way a whale carcass becomes a buffet just as it does on land. The way they gather around thermal vents just as early humans gathered around rivers. They have no knowledge of us and yet they are like us.
The Monterey Bay was feeling swell today! When waves break like this on the protected coastline of Cannery Row, you know the surf is way up on the exposed coast. Thanks to Aquarist Christy for the video!