FaunaHub
Depth zone6,000 m to the trench floor (~11,000 m)

Hadal Zone

Hadopelagic zone

The deepest part of the ocean — the great trenches. It endures the highest pressures on Earth, yet specially adapted animals still survive there.

Conditions in this zone

  • Depth: from about 6,000 metres to the deepest trenches (~11,000 m)
  • The highest pressures anywhere in the ocean
  • Total darkness and cold
  • Found only in deep ocean trenches

Life of the hadal zone

Documented trench life includes amphipods and snailfishes, which scientists have recorded at remarkable depths. Some snailfishes are the deepest-living fish known, filmed and collected in the great trenches.

FaunaHub profiles the snailfish (family Liparidae) as representative of this zone's hadal specialists, shown below with a cautious confidence label.

Animal profiles in this zone

Marine animals FaunaHub profiles that are documented in this zone. Many also occur in other layers.

Source & methodology

Zone science here is summarised from authoritative ocean-science sources. Animal placements reuse each species' verified source and show a confidence label; a depth zone is not treated as a complete range, since many animals move between layers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How deep is the hadal zone?
The hadal zone (hadopelagic zone) spans roughly 6,000 m to the trench floor (~11,000 m).
Do these animals live only in the hadal zone?
Not necessarily. Many marine animals move between depth zones, some migrating vertically each day. We show the zone(s) each animal is documented to occur in, with a confidence label.

Last updated: