Peniagone Sea Cucumber

Peniagone Sea Cucumber (likely Peniagone vitrea)

Sea cucumbers (Phylum Echinoderm, Class Holothuria) are common in the sediments at the base of Axial Seamount.  This one is an unknown species of the genus Peniagone. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive R1715; V14

This small sea cucumber is abundant at the base of Axial Seamount, and many different species are common along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The cucumber generally crawls across the seafloor, but can also use undulating motions to swim longer distances or escape predators.

References:
http://oceanleadership.org/the-census-of-marine-life-photo-of-the-week-red-peniagone-sea-cucumber/
http://www.earthtouchnews.com/oceans/deep-ocean/dancing-sea-cucumber-spotted-in-the-deep-sea