Photo Gallery Crazy Baltic Sea Creatures
Cyanae lamarckii, aptly referred to as the blue jellyfish, floats through the water. This is one of many photos taken during a Baltic Sea expedition led by marine conservation organization Oceana.
The two-month project aims to assess the current health of ecosystems in the Baltic Sea and use the data to establish new protected marine areas. Here, a hermit crab (Pagurus bernhardus) takes a rest on a sea star.
A colorful anemone waves to the camera. The Oceana expedition's photos show a spectacular variety of sea creatures, many resembling living art installations
or Lady Gaga costumes. These fish eggs resemble the pop star's famed "bubble dress."
The Atlantic Butterfish is one of many creatures captured on camera by Oceana team members.
Colorful crustacean Corella parallelogramma also calls the Baltic Sea home
as does this crab
...and this young sea snail, Liparis Liparis.
Unfortunately, the Oceana expedition has also turned up pictures pointing to the damage done by pollution, overfishing and excessive algae growth. Here, a dead jellyfish.
Diver Carlos Minguell at work. Technology like underwater cameras and ROVs (remotely operated vehicles) allow the Oceana team to share what they are seeing underneath the water's surface with those onshore.
Triglopsis quadricornis, a four-horned sea scorpion, gets up close and personal with the camera.
A neon pink shrimp, Caprella linearis.
A parasitic annelid. Even a parasite like this is essential to maintaining balance in the Baltic Sea's ecosystems.
A common crab.
It's rare that visibility in the brackish Baltic Sea allows for such clear photos.
Oceana team members call the Hanse Explorer, a 48-meter-long expedition vessel, home.
The fin of a sea scorpion. The name is misleading, as the sea scorpion is no spiny creature but just a simple fish.
The German name for the lump fish can be misleading as well: Seehase -- literally, sea rabbit.
A mother eel (Zoarces viviparus).
An underwater robot prepares to take a dive in search of photo-worthy moments.
The control room aboard the Hanse Explorer.
