God never ceases to amaze people with His wonderful creations, some of whom are only now being discovered.
Scientists were stunned upon seeing images of new bizarre animals recently found at the bottom of "submerged America," Eurekalert reported.
Marine explorers are now celebrating the discovery of the "spectacular" animals of "baffling unknown species" which were encountered during this year's voyages to new deep ocean areas in the U.S.
The strange newly discovered animals include:
* A bizarre purple "mud monster" called the "acorn worm";
* A swimming purple sea cucumber, which researchers likened to a flying Mary Poppins;
* A mysterious purple orb, likened by one scientist to a disco ball;
* A rare purple Vampire Squid, (Vampyroteuthis infernalis), a deep-sea creature nicknamed for its deep colour and red eyes; and
* Stubby "googly-eyed" purple animal looking like a cross between an octopus and a squid.
The explorers from the Ocean Exploration Trust also discovered 500 vents off the U.S. West Coast, each bubbling methane from the Earth's belly.
"It appears that the entire coast off Washington, Oregon and California is a giant methane seep," says RMS Titanic discoverer Robert Ballard, who found the vents.
The discoveries double to about 1,000 the number of such vents along the American continental margins.
The discoveries are considered significant since the fizzing methane could be used as clean burning fuel if it's safely captured.
The researchers also found a tiny spot volcano, the first ever discovered in U.S. waters. They also discovered new mud volcano, thick gardens of deep-sea corals and sponges, a rare high-density community of basket stars and a living fossil called crinoids as well as historic wreckage from World War II.
"This is an area ripe for discovery," says Dr. Nicole Raineault, Director of Science Operations with Dr. Ballard's Ocean Exploration Trust.
