Bloodybelly comb jellies, sea pigs, hot vent tubeworms—real images and video of these and over 125 other little known inhabitants of the Pacific Ocean can now be viewed on your iPad. Our new Marine Life Field Guide is the first electronic and interactive visual reference to species of the deep sea. This unique new guide is a ‘living book’ that we'll be updating regularly with new creatures, images, videos and information.

During NEPTUNE Canada’s challenging research and maintenance expeditions into the northeast Pacific Ocean, undersea videos are captured by remotely operated submersibles diving to almost three kilometres below the ocean surface, where life forms thrive in complete darkness.

There are currently 131 animals listed, enhanced by almost 30 minutes of video. They range from the Giant Pacific Octopus (the largest Octopus in the world) to the Bloodybelly comb jelly; from delicate sea spiders in the hydrothermal vents to otherworldly sea cucumbers on the seafloor. More than 50 per cent of the pictures have been taken at depths over 1000 metres. To our knowledge, about 20 per cent of the species are undetermined; almost half have no common names.

The new iBook seeks to raise awareness of the ocean’s vast biodiversity and involve experts around the world in classifying these mysterious animals. “We’re just beginning to discover the creatures of the deep sea,” says Kim Juniper, Director of User Engagement at Ocean Networks Canada. “What better way to expand our knowledge than to have an evolving illustrated catalogue, developed with input from the global research community and shared with the world?”

The Marine Life Field Guide is available via iBooks for free and also as a PDF.