Cryptopygus antarcticus, Springtail False colour, scanning electron-micrograph, of the Antarctic springtail Cryptopygus antarcticus. Cryptopygus is one of the most successful terrestrial arthropods to have colonised the Antarctic continent. Although only 1-2 mm long and weighing only a few micro-grams, it is one of the largest animals to complete its lifecycle on the Antarctic continent. The springtail, which is actually an iridescent black colour, avoids freezing by accumulating antifreeze compounds. These reduce the freezing point of its body fluids in the same way that antifreeze additives prevent the freezing of water in a car radiator. This enables these tiny animals to survive temperatures below -25C.
Laboratory photo of one of the newly discovered bone-eating worms, Osedax frankpressi, which has been removed from a whale bone. Normally only the red and white plumes and the pinkish trunk would be visible. The greenish roots and whitish ovary would be hidden inside the bone.
Spiders the size of dinner plates and fish with anti-freeze to cope with the cold are among 6,000 species discovered living in the depths of the Antarctic seas
This pink species of Epimeriidae is new to scientists and is the first deep sea member of this group
This carnivorous moonsnail lives in the Antarctic deep sea. It can detect food from a wide distance and will moved towards it. Polyps, covering its shell, use the moonsnail as transport to food sources.
Glass-like animals known as tunicates are early colonisers of the sea floor
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