This image is the skeleton of a 35-ton, 13m gray whale on the sea bottom in Santa Catalina
Whale fall is the term used for a whale carcass that has fallen to the ocean floor. Whale falls were first observed in the 1980s, when we first had the technology for deep-sea exploration.
When a whale dies in shallow water, its carcass is devoured by scavengers, like snails, over a period of time. In deeper water, the carcass can provide sustenance for an ecosystem over decades.
Organisims observed at whale falls include: squat lobsters, bristleworms, prawns, shrimp, hagfish, crabs, sea cucumbers, octopuses, clams, and sleeper sharks. Whale falls also generally provide sustenance for tuberworms.
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