Odd Sea Creatures Found at Volcanoes, Canyons
1. Crown Jellyfish
Found in a canyon about 5,000 feet (1,500 meters) deep, this unidentified jellyfish is likely a type of Atolla, a genus of crown jellyfish that dwells only at depth. Photograph courtesy NIWA
2. ”Mickey Mouse” Squid
Commonly called a “mickey mouse” squid, this small sepiolid was discovered about 3,000 feet (900 meters) deep on a canyon wall. Photograph courtesy NIWA
3. Cup Coral
Unlike reef-building corals that form giant colonies, cup corals—such as thisStephanocyathus platypus, found 3,200 feet (1,000 meters) down—live solitary lives in their cuplike limestone exterior skeletons, according to Monterey Bay Aquarium. Photograph courtesy NIWA
4. Honeycomb Glass Sponge
With a silicon-based skeleton, a new species of “beautiful and fragile” honeycomb glass sponge of the Farrea genus was found on a seamount at 3,100 feet (950 meters) deep—and it wasn’t alone. Photograph courtesy NIWA
5. Tonguefish
The Tangaroa Seamount offered up a new species of tonguefish in theSymphurus genus (pictured). Photograph courtesy NIWA
6. Coral, With a Side of Crab
Pictured with a crab emerging from its middle, this likely new species ofEpizoanthus coral has polyps that, when extended, resemble its close relative the sea anemone. Photograph courtesy NIWA
7. Sea Slug
A potential new species of sea slug was caught in a canyon at depths of 4,100 feet (1,250 meters). Photograph courtesy NIWA
8. Snake Stars
Yellowish snake stars of the species Asteroschema bidwillae were caught on an undersea peak called Tangaroa Seamount at a depth of 4,000 feet (1,220 meters). Photograph courtesy NIWA
9. Uroptychus Squat Lobster
Found between depths of 2,130 feet (650 meters) and 4,600 feet (1,400 meters), this squat lobster of the Uroptychus genus isn’t the first known specimen of its kind, but its species hasn’t yet been formally recognized. Photograph courtesy NIWA
(via earthandscience)
