Part of the web site “An Introduction to Microscopy,” the Virtual Ocean shows what sea creatures look like in larval form, as well as microscopic algae, bristle worms, radiolaria, and other smaller, often overlooked sea dwellers. Students can get an in-depth look at some of the smallest–and most important–creatures in the ocean’s food chain. For instance, have you ever seen a comb jelly–or “sea gooseberries,” as they are also known–considered to be one of the most beautiful creatures in the ocean? Did you know there’s a microorganism called an Art Deco Diatom, named for its symmetrical fan-shaped body structure? And did you know that sea squirts have a larval tail–much like that of a tadpole–that they use for propulsion, which they later reabsorb when they find a suitable place to live? This site also includes tips on catching and keeping some of the ocean’s tiniest inhabitants for classroom study, and it provides a useful reference for lab work on ocean biology. Included on the main page is a link to “The Smallest Page on the Web,” an introduction to the microscopic organisms that can be found in a freshwater pond. Science teachers are encouraged to use images and text from the web site in their classes.