The Deep: The Extraordinary Creatures of the Abyss.

By volume, 99 percent of Earth's inhabitable space is ocean. Eighty-five percent of that consists of deep, dark, relatively uncharted waters, home to some of the strangest creatures on the planet. Nouvian presents a selection of these organisms, some photographed for the first time, in more than 200 color photos. By a depth of 150 meters, water has absorbed 99 percent of the surface sunlight. This region, known as the midwater, is not only dark but also intensely cold, low in oxygen, and under high pressure. The organisms that thrive in these conditions look alien, most of them glowing with their own bioluminescence, and some displaying monstrous appendages that aid in sensing prey and enemies alike. Accompanying the photos are essays by marine biologists discussing topics such as the unique ecology of the ocean abyss, whether deep-sea animals represent living fossils, the history of ocean exploration, and specific ocean features, including the Arctic Ocean, the Monterey Canyon, submerged mountains, and deep-sea corals. Univ. Chicago Press, 2007, 256 p., color photos, hardcover, $45.00.