What animals live in the continental slope?


Quick Answer

Deep sea fish such as rockfish, flashlightfish, headlightfish, midshipman, Dover sole, thornyheads, stablefish, and spot prawns live in the continental slope. The continental slope is also home to coral reefs and deep-slope crabs.

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Full Answer

The continental slope is a region of the ocean that reaches from the continental shelf to the continental rise. It is a steep slope that goes down into the ocean bottom. This region of the ocean features freezing temperatures that not many life forms can survive.

The deep sea fish, crabs and coral reefs that do create habitats in this environment have adaptations needed to survive. The sea life moves and ages very slowly, and the fish often live closely together due to the limited food. There is also an absence of light on the slope, causing some organisms to develop light-producing organs. Fish such as flashlightfish, headlightfish, and midshipmen have developed this adaptation. Fish and crabs have also had to adapt to the pressure difference on the continental slope, causing many crabs to be fragile and easily harmed when brought above the water.

The continental slope is great for deep-sea fishing, as most of the marine life consists of fish. Humans can be an enemy to the marine life on the continental slope. Due to oil spills, illegal dumping, and trawling, many deep sea fish habitats and coral reefs have been harmed or diminished over time.

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