Archive

Sea Pig

Sea Pig (Scotoplanes globosa) Sea pigs are usually 4-6 inches long. They are distributed throughout the abyssal plain of the deep ocean,

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Peniagone Sea Cucumber

Peniagone Sea Cucumber (likely Peniagone vitrea) This small sea cucumber is abundant at the base of Axial Seamount, and many different species

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Moseley’s Sea Cucumber

Moseley’s Sea Cucumber (Pannychia moseleyi) First discovered in the 1800s, Pannychia moseleyi, also known as Moseley’s sea cucumber, are often found at

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Echinothuriid Sea Urchin

Echinothuriid Sea Urchin (Tromikosoma panamense) The Tromikosoma panamense sea urchin has been seen at the base of Axial Seamount (2600 meters) and

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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

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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

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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

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Blue Ciliates

Blue Ciliates (Folliculinopsis sp.) These deep blue, single celled protists reside on basalt substrates and are very common surrounding hydrothermal vents along

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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

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