Unknown Sea Urchin 1
Unknown Sea Urchin 1 This is easily the most common sea urchin found on Axial. It is often observed hiding among the
May 18, 2023
Author: Mike Vardaro
Spinophiura Brittle Star
Spinophiura Brittle Star (Spinophiura jolliveti) The lava rocks at Axial Seamount are typically covered with many members of the brittle star species
May 18, 2023
Henricia Sea Star
Henricia Sea Star (tentative ID) This species is also fairly common, often seen lounging on the basaltic lavas of Axial. They have
May 18, 2023
Mediaster Sea Star
Mediaster Sea Star (likely Mediaster tenellus) This sea star (shown to the left of a brittle star) has been observed on several
May 18, 2023
Blue Ciliates
Blue Ciliates (Folliculinopsis sp.) These deep blue, single celled protists reside on basalt substrates and are very common surrounding hydrothermal vents along
May 16, 2023
Sea Spider (Pycnogonid)
Sea Spider (Ammothea verenae) Sea Spiders are not Arachnids but belong to Class Pycnogonida: spider-like marine Arthropods. They have four pairs of
May 16, 2023
Unidentified Lithodid Crustacean
Unidentified Crustacean (Lithodidae sp.) A deep-sea crab from the family Lithodidae was seen crawling around the equipment and on the pillow basalts
May 16, 2023
Squat Lobster
Squat Lobster (Munidolopsis alvisca) This Crustacean is light tan in color and has six walking legs, and two significantly larger claws. A
May 16, 2023
Spider Crab
Spider Crab (Macroregonia macrochira) Spider Crabs are major predators and scavengers at Axial Seamount. They belong to Order Decapoda, and therefore have
May 16, 2023
Plumose Metridium Anemones
Plumose Anemone (Metridium farcimen) These large, fluffy-looking white (or occasionally orange) anemones are often found on OOI infrastructure in shallow coastal waters
May 16, 2023