Denizens of the deep

"These are the passengers of Deepsea Metro, collectively known as the “denizens of the deep.” They look a bit strange, which we believe is a result of having adapted to survive in the extreme depths of their unique environment."

- Live from the Squid Research Lab

The denizens of the deep are characters in Octo Expansion. They are found in the Deepsea Metro and are based on various real-life organisms that inhabit the deep ocean. They do not interact with Agent 8 or Cap'n Cuttlefish, and may be part of a larger society of deep-sea creatures. Each species has multiple individuals, and several may be seen riding cars of the Deepsea Metro at the same time.

Members

 * Humanoid sea angels, much larger than their real-life counterparts. They have pale blue translucent skin, through which a pink organ can be seen within their head. Their clothes consist of a red and white letterman jacket, dark gray pants, and basketball shoes similar to those made by Enperry that vary in color. In the Octo Expansion trailer in the March 8, 2018 Nintendo Direct, one is shown looking at a smartphone.


 * Humanoid ping pong tree spongesundefined, also fairly large. They have translucent skin in a dull turquoise and many spherical organs on long stalks branching off from their "head". They wears loose, dark purple dresses in slightly varying colors and brown boots that come up to the mid-calf. In promotional images one is shown reading a book and holding a strapless handbag, but the one in the Nintendo Direct trailer only has a handbag. They are ladylike, elegant, and content to keep to themselves, but rumored to be more aggressive than they seem. Live from Squid Research Lab refers to them with "she" pronouns.


 * Deep-sea jellyfish that resemble starlet sea anemones or tube anemone larvae. They have pale blue skin and wear t-shirts with several different designs. They may wear several different types of hats, including hard hats, baseball caps, and bell-shaped hats similar to the Tulip Parasol. One of these jellyfish is briefly seen sitting next to a gulper eel in the Nintendo Direct trailer. When bumped into by Agent 8, they make a wobbling sound and the tops of their heads wiggle back and forth.


 * Predatory tunicates, which look similar to jellyfish and even have similar eyes, but are clam-shaped and attached to various surfaces of the Deepsea Metro. Their skin can have a purple, green, or yellow tint, and they do not wear any clothes or accessories. They are not seen in the Nintendo Direct trailer. It is unknown how they get on and off subway cars.


 * Gulper eels, relatively similar to their real-life counterparts but in a more human-like posture. They have dull purple skin, yellow-green fins, and large eyes similar to those of jellyfish. They wear t-shirts with several different designs and may be seen wearing hats or glasses. In the Nintendo Direct trailer, one gulper eel is briefly seen sitting next to a deep-sea jellyfish. They are described as childlike and gluttonous, in contrast with their thin appearance.


 * Humanoid flashlight fish. Like their real-life counterparts, they have bioluminescent organs beneath their large eyes and strings of bioluminescent spots down both sides of their bodies. Their skin is a dark gray, and the fins on their heads are transparent, vary in color, and lay to the side, resembling hair. They wear school uniforms and loafers with socks, similar to the school-themed gear sets provided by both Inkling Girl amiibo, which can also vary in color. They may be seen carrying bags with logos on them and looking at flip phones. One with blue fins is seen in the Nintendo Direct trailer.


 * Humanoid longsnout dogfish, much larger than their real-life counterparts. They have pale pink skin, large green eyes, and their snouts are folded over, lessening their resemblance to real-life dogfish. Their outfits are all identical, consisting of a gray suit jacket and matching pants, a white shirt, a black belt, a brown necktie, and brown dress shoes. They may be seen with brown briefcases or newspapers; in the Nintendo Direct trailer, one is shown sitting with the former. It is suggested that they sleep with their eyes open, like most fish in real life. Nothing happens when Agent 8 bumps into them, but a faint snoring sound can sometimes be heard when standing near them.


 * Siphonophoresundefined, resembling jellyfish but with multiple "heads" attached to a tall red stalk. The "heads" are a translucent blue and the body is red, matching the stalk. Instead of legs they have an outcropping of spikes, and they wear t-shirts with several different designs. Only one siphonophore is seen in the Nintendo Direct trailer. They can hang using the end of their stalks and may be seen doing so on the handrails of subway cars. When bumped into by Agent 8, they make a wind chime-like sound and each head jiggles.


 * Large humanoid blobfish. Real-life blobfish are suited to the pressures of the deep ocean and take on a bloated appearance when brought to the surface, upon which these blobfish characters were based. They have pale pink skin and can wear hats, t-shirts, and sneakers. They may be seen using earbuds or headphones to listen to a portable audio cassette player, possibly based off of a Walkman. In the Nintendo Direct trailer, they are seen sitting next to a dogfish. They are described as frightening at first, but actually charming once one takes a closer look. When bumped into by Agent 8, their bellies jiggle with a bouncing sound and they groan in a deep voice, which can also be heard when standing near them.

Trivia

 * The Japanese Twitter post describing the ping pong tree sponge contains a play on words: 肉食系 (nikushokukei) typically refers to an aggressive personality when describing a person, but it more literally translates to "carnivore". In this case, both meanings may be true, as ping pong tree sponges are carnivores that use their many spherical organs to trap and digest passing crustaceans.
 * In-game, C.Q. Cumber refers to himself as part of the denizens of the deep, but he is not included in any Twitter or Tumblr posts about them.