Option 1: Rhinochimaera

What is a rhinochimaera?

Commonly known as ghost sharks or rat fish, chimaeras are cartilaginous fish most closely related to sharks and rays. The "rhino" in rhinochimaera refers to the long noses that give some species of chimaera such a distinctive look, like the one in the video above. This rhinochimaera was found while exploring Hydrographer Canyon as part of the Northeast U.S. Canyons Expedition 2013.

Why should you vote for it?

This rhinochimaera looks quite ghostly floating through the water. Movie fans might recognize that this particular animal looks a lot like Zero, Jack Skellington’s ghost dog in "The Nightmare Before Christmas."

 Option 2: Bigfin squid

What is a bigfin squid?

Bigfin squid (Magnapinna sp.) are remarkable animals. Distributed throughout the global ocean, they can live deeper than any other known squid. The specimen in the video above was recorded at a depth of 2,385 meters during NOAA Ocean Exploration’s Windows to the Deep 2021 expedition, but they’ve also been found over 6,200 meters below the surface! Bigfin squid can reach lengths of more than 6 meters (20 feet), though most of that length is owed to their very thin arms and tentacles that may be used to catch small prey with microscopic suckers.

Why should you vote for it?

Let’s face it: Encountering a squid that’s 6 meters long (or longer!) would probably startle most people. The bigfin squid, though, has managed to attract a good number of fans who appreciate just how incredible it is. The unusual, seemingly "jointed" arms, the mysteries surrounding its lifestyle, and, of course, the huge fin crowning its body have made the bigfin squid one of the best-known ambassadors of deep-ocean science.

Option 3: Casper the octopus

What is the "Casper" octopus?

This octopus was found during the 2016 Hohonu Moana: Exploring Deep Waters off Hawaiʻi expedition at a depth of 4,290 meters (2.7 miles). The discovery was a very happy surprise for the team participating in the expedition, as no octopus of this one’s type had ever been spotted at such extreme depths before. Most octopods found in the very deep sea are cirrate or "dumbo" octopods, while incirrate octopods like Casper look more similar to their shallow cousins. Casper is almost certainly an undescribed species and may not even belong to a described genus.

Why should you vote for it?

This octopus’s lack of pigment and its ethereal movements give it a ghostly-yet-cute appearance, which led its fans on social media to nickname it "Casper." Both spooky and cuddly: who could ask for anything more?

Option 2: Sea Spider

What is a sea spider?

Not a spider, for starters! Both spiders and sea spiders are arthropods, but spiders belong to the class Arachnida while sea spiders belong to the class Pycnogonida. Many sea spiders are tiny, but some can have a leg span of over 50 centimeters (20 inches). Sea spiders have even been observed using their legs to swim! The individual in the video above was found at a depth of 1,477 meters (4,845 feet) during the second Voyage to the Ridge expedition in 2022. These animals may look intimidating to some, but they are completely harmless to humans and are important members of the ocean ecosystem.

Why should you vote for it?

While it isn’t a spider, the sea spider does look remarkably similar to its relatives on dry land that are commonly used as Halloween decorations. The sea spider also has vampiric tendencies: lacking teeth, it instead uses a tubelike mouth called a proboscis to suck fluids from its soft-bodied prey like anemones and worms.

 Option 3: Casper the octopus

What is the "Casper" octopus?

This octopus was found during the 2016 Hohonu Moana: Exploring Deep Waters off Hawaiʻi expedition at a depth of 4,290 meters (2.7 miles). The discovery was a very happy surprise for the team participating in the expedition, as no octopus of this one’s type had ever been spotted at such extreme depths before. Most octopods found in the very deep sea are cirrate or "dumbo" octopods, while incirrate octopods like Casper look more similar to their shallow cousins. Casper is almost certainly an undescribed species and may not even belong to a described genus.

Why should you vote for it?

This octopus’s lack of pigment and its ethereal movements give it a ghostly-yet-cute appearance, which led its fans on social media to nickname it "Casper." Both spooky and cuddly: who could ask for anything more?

 Option 2: Bigfin squid

What is a bigfin squid?

Bigfin squid (Magnapinna sp.) are remarkable animals. Distributed throughout the global ocean, they can live deeper than any other known squid. The specimen in the video above was recorded at a depth of 2,385 meters during NOAA Ocean Exploration’s Windows to the Deep 2021 expedition, but they’ve also been found over 6,200 meters below the surface! Bigfin squid can reach lengths of more than 6 meters (20 feet), though most of that length is owed to their very thin arms and tentacles that may be used to catch small prey with microscopic suckers.

Why should you vote for it?

Let’s face it: Encountering a squid that’s 6 meters long (or longer!) would probably startle most people. The bigfin squid, though, has managed to attract a good number of fans who appreciate just how incredible it is. The unusual, seemingly "jointed" arms, the mysteries surrounding its lifestyle, and, of course, the huge fin crowning its body have made the bigfin squid one of the best-known ambassadors of deep-ocean science.

Option 3: Isopod

What is an isopod?

"Isopod" refers to all of the many animals in the order Isopoda, which contains some types of crustaceans. The best-known isopods are the land-dwelling ones that you might find at a local park or in your yard, which are commonly known as pill bugs, roly-polies, or woodlice (among many other names). Plenty of isopods live in the ocean, though, and some, like the animal in the video above, are deep-sea dwellers. This long-legged isopod was found during the 2016 Deepwater Exploration of the Marianas.

Why should you vote for it?

While it isn’t closely related to spiders, this isopod’s long legs would help it fit in as a decoration at any Halloween party. Also, wouldn’t you say that its white color and rigid body make it look quite skeletal?

 Option 2: Rhinochimaera

What is a rhinochimaera?

Commonly known as ghost sharks or rat fish, chimaeras are cartilaginous fish most closely related to sharks and rays. The "rhino" in rhinochimaera refers to the long noses that give some species of chimaera such a distinctive look, like the one in the video above. This rhinochimaera was found while exploring Hydrographer Canyon as part of the Northeast U.S. Canyons Expedition 2013.

Why should you vote for it?

This rhinochimaera looks quite ghostly floating through the water. Movie fans might recognize that this particular animal looks a lot like Zero, Jack Skellington’s ghost dog in "The Nightmare Before Christmas."

Option 3: Nemertean worm

What is a nemertean worm?

Also known as a ribbon worm or proboscis worm, nemertean worms like this one roam across the seafloor on slime trails. To hunt, these worms surprise their prey with a long, venomous appendage called a proboscis. The nemertean worm in the video above was found during the 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones expedition.

Why should you vote for it?

It may not look like much, but the nemertean worm is a fascinating animal. Along with its curious hunting strategy, many nemertean worms like the one above use a unique method to escape from predators: splitting apart! In many cases, the smaller worms that the animal splits into when stressed continue to survive as separate creatures.

Can’t get enough of the deep-ocean Halloween spirit? You can find pumpkin carving templates and more spine-tingling resources on the NOAA Spooky Science page.

All videos courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration.