Palm Worms at top of El Guapo. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; V11.

A Cockatoo Squid swam by the ROV camera. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R1712; V14.

This curious Cockatoo Squid (Taonius borealis) inspected the ROV ROPOS's camera. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; V13.

A Rattail Fish (Coryphaenoides acrolepis) is by far the most common fish on Axial. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R1601; V13.

The Deep Sea Skate (Bathyraja abyssicola) is a fairly frequent visitor to Axial Seamount; Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; V13.

A Rattail checks out the fiber optic cable at Axial Seamount. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R1608; V13.

A Roughtail skate (Bathyraja trachura) resting near a vent on Axial Seamount. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R1617; V13.

This deep sea, purple spiny sea urchin (possibly Tromikosoma panamense) was seen at the base of Axial.  Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive R1715; V14

This unknown sea cucumber was found at the base of Axial Seamount, living among the brittle stars. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive R1716; V14  

This spiny Holothurian Deep-Sea Cucumber (possibly of Genus Pannychia) has been seen on many regions of Axial Seamount. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; V13

This large purple sea cucumber (Holothurian) was seen at the base of Axial Seamount, foraging through the sediments. This one is likely Paelopadites confundens. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; V14.

These small sea spiders are Pycnogonids (Phylum Arthropoda) and live among the tube worms and limpets on hydrothermal vents of Axial Seamount. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/WHOI; V11

An interesting perspective of this Dinner Plate Jelly (Solmissus sp.) and the Remotely Operated Cable Laying System (ROCLS) spool, makes the jelly look enormous. Photo credit: Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive R1604; V13

These dinner plate jellies are a frequent sight during ROPOS dives on Axial Seamount. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive R1713; V14

This large jelly is called a Fried Egg Jelly (Phacellophora cantschatica).  It normally is a pelagic organism, however this one is on the seafloor, making it vulnerable to spider crab feasting. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive R1619; V13

A solitary anemone lives on the sediment seafloor with brittle stars at the base of Axial Seamount. This may be a Jack-o-Lantern Lid anemone. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive R1715, V14.

This unknown species of anemone was found on the sediments at the base of Axial Seamount.  Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive R1624; V13

This pink anemone was found at Axial Seamount, affixed to the lava rocks.  Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive R1712; V14  

An unknown anemone is attached to the lava rocks at Axial Seamount.  Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive R1608; V13

Two Squat Lobsters on Escargot vent, Axial Seamount. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; V11

A rattail fish (Coryphaenoides acrolepis) is a common site at the summit of Axial Seamount. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; Dive R1720; V14.

A Deep-Sea Cucumber (possibly Pannychia moseleyi) inhabits the lava flows of Axial. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R1721; V14.

A zoroasterid sea star at Axial Seamount, likely Zoroaster spinulosus. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive R1721; V14.

Palm Worms (Paralvinella palmiformis) coexist with Ridgeia Tubeworms on hydrothermal vents at Axial Seamount. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS, V13.

This large sea cucumber (Holothurian) was seen with many smaller sea cucumbers of Genus Peniagone at the base of Axial.  Photo Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive R1715; V14.

Beautiful blue ciliates (protists) line the base of the hydrothermal vent called El Gordo. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R1713; V14

A beautiful sea urchin sits on a young lava flow at the summit of Axial Seamount. Photo Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive R1712; V14.