You know what your hump day needs? Some absolute stunning photos of deep-sea animals. Look at this one. Look at that one. You gotta get yourself some of these deep-sea animals.
A team of scientists recently wrapped up a 40-day research voyage (jealous!) from the Salas y Gómez Ridge to Rapa Nui, commonly known as Easter Island. Situated off the coast of Chile, this ridge is teeming with biodiversity and is being considered for designation as a high-seas marine protected area. Led by Drs. Erin E. Easton from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and Javier Sellanes from the Universidad Católica del Norte, the team meticulously studied 10 seamounts and two islands along the 2900-kilometer-long underwater mountain range. Their findings reveal distinct ecosystems on each seamount, including glass sponge gardens and deep coral reefs.
A Chaunax (or little Chaunny if you please, a member of the sea toad family) documented during Dive 664, a transect is located on the southwestern flank of Rapa Nui. The dive began at ~600 m depth and traveled upslope to ~200-300 m. The island is located near the western extent of the Salas y Gómez Ridge of underwater mountains. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute CC BY-NC-SA
Primnoid coral partially overgrown with two species of zoanthid coral observed during Dive 677 along a transect on the eastern flank of an unexplored and unregistered seamount within the national jurisdiction of Chile, east of Motu Motiro Hiva, an uninhabited island. The seamount also lies within the Motu Motiro Hiva Marine Park. The dive started at ~900 m depth and went upslope to the summit ~230 m. This seamount is located near the western-central extent of the Salas y Gómez Ridge. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute CC BY-NC-SA
A galaxy siphonophore observed during Dive 672 along a transect on the northern flank of Motu Motiro Hiva, an uninhabited island along the Salas y Gómez Ridge. Motu Motiro Hiva is surrounded by the southwesternmost shallow coral reefs of the Polynesian Triangle. The dive started at ~1200 m depth and traveled upslope to ~190 m. The island is located near the western extent of the Salas y Gómez Ridge off the coast of Chile. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute CC BY-NC-SA
A Diadema sea urchin documented during Dive 672 along a transect on the northern flank of Motu Motiro Hiva, an uninhabited island along the Salas y Gómez Ridge. Motu Motiro Hiva is surrounded by the southwesternmost shallow coral reefs of the Polynesian Triangle. The dive started at ~1200 m depth and traveled upslope to ~190 m. The island is located near the western extent of the Salas y Gómez Ridge of underwater mountains. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute CC BY-NC-SA
Primnoid Coral with associates, including hermit crabs and squat lobsters during Dive 665, a transect on the western side of the seamount Moai, ~26 km west of Rapa Nui. The dive started at ~900 m depth and traveled upslope to the summit at ~600 m. This seamount is located near the western extent of the Salas y Gómez Ridge of underwater mountains. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute CC BY-NC-SA
A squat lobster in a coral garden during Dive 664 along a transect located on the southwestern flank of Rapa Nui. The dive began at ~600 m depth and traveled upslope to ~200-300 m. The island is located near the western extent of the Salas y Gómez Ridge of underwater mountains. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute CC BY-NC-SA
A hydroid seen during Dive 663 along a transect located on the northern flank of Rapa Nui. The dive began at ~820 m depth and traveled upslope to ~250-300 m. The island is located near the western extent of the Salas y Gómez Ridge of underwater mountains. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute CC BY-NC-SA
A deep-sea dragon fish, an apex predator with enormous jaws filled with fang-like teeth, seen during Dive 674 along a transect on the southeastern flank of an unexplored and unnamed seamount located within the national jurisdiction of Chilé, east of Motu Motiro Hiva, an uninhabited island along the Salas y Gómez Ridge. The dive started at ~800 m depth and traveled upslope to ~270 m. This island is located near the western-central extent of the Salas y Gómez Ridge. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute CC BY-NC-SA
An octopus documented during Dive 674, an exploration transect on the southeastern flank of an unexplored and unnamed seamount located within the national jurisdiction of Chile, east of Motu Motiro Hiva, an uninhabited island along the Salas y Gómez Ridge. The dive started at ~800 m depth and traveled upslope to ~270 m. This island is located near the western-central extent of the Salas y Gómez Ridge. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute CC BY-NC-SA
A Chrysogorgia coral and squat lobster ducmented during Dive 672 along a transect on the northern flank of Motu Motiro Hiva, an uninhabited island along the Salas y Gómez Ridge. Motu Motiro Hiva is surrounded by the southwesternmost shallow coral reefs of the Polynesian triangle. The dive started at ~1200 m depth and traveled upslope to ~190 m. The island is located near the western extent of the Salas y Gómez Ridge of underwater mountains. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute CC BY-NC-SA
A Coronaster (a genus of starfish in the family Asteriidae) documented during Dive 664, a transect on the southwestern flank Rapa Nui. The dive began at ~600 m depth and traveled upslope to ~200-300 m. The island is located near the western extent of the Salas y Gómez Ridge of underwater mountains. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute CC BY-NC-SA
The deepest-known photosynthesis-dependent Leptoseris coral documented on Dive 672, a transect on the northern flank of Motu Motiro Hiva, an uninhabited island. The dive started at ~1200 m depth and traveled upslope to ~190 m. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute CC BY-NC-SA
Share the post "Hump Day Happiness: Dive into Deep-Sea Delights"
