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    Pygmy seahorses survive by disappearing into the world around them

    Pygmy seahorses have long been a mystery to scientists: how do these fragile creatures, just two centimetres in length, blend so perfectly with the brightly coloured coral around them? Is their short lifespan a quest to find coral that perfectly matches their skin, or do they adapt to fit their surroundings? This short film chronicles the first time scientists were able to successfully observe the lifecycle of a pygmy seahorse, and uncover the secret to its incredible camouflage.

    Producer: Josh Cassidy

    Website: Deep Look

    12 December 2014
    A colourful sea slug with a purple and white spotted body and green appendages on a sandy ocean floor.

    videoBiology

    Far from sluggish: the remarkable sea creature that weaponises its dinner

    4 minutes

    A squid expelling ink underwater in a dark, almost black environment, creating a stark contrast with the squid’s pale body.

    videoEvolution

    An underwater journey reveals the strange birthing process of a deep-sea squid

    6 minutes

    Close-up of an orange sea anemone with flowing tentacles against a teal background.

    videoOceans and water

    See what no human eyes have seen before, deep in the sea off Western Australia

    5 minutes

    Close-up of a dark, complex organic structure with a central white shape, surrounded by red and dark textures.

    videoBiology

    If a sea urchin survives the incredible tumult of youth, it’s nearly immortal

    3 minutes

    Close-up photo of two translucent, pink comb jellies with visible cilia and internal structures, set against a dark background.

    videoEvolution

    Take a shimmering, surreal swim with what might be the Earth’s oldest animals

    7 minutes

    Close-up of a vibrant sea anemone with purple and yellow hues, surrounded by small pink dots against a dark blue background.

    videoEcology and environmental sciences

    The eerie otherworldliness of slow undersea life sped up to a human pace

    5 minutes

    Various sea creatures, including starfish and marine worms, surrounding a partially visible carcass underwater.

    videoBiology

    Join massive, ancient carnivores for a rare feast beneath the Antarctic ice

    3 minutes

    A hermit crab on a sandy surface with a slightly blurred background. The crab has orange legs and a black shell.

    videoEvolution

    Why are Caribbean hermit crabs lining up on a beach? For housing, of course

    5 minutes

    An underwater fish with a wide-open mouth, adorned with fringes and colourful patterns, against a dark, sandy background.

    videoEvolution

    Don’t be fooled by its shaggy charm: the hairy frogfish eats prey its own size

    4 minutes