Octomom: Deep-sea octopus guards her eggs for over four years MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2014-07-30 | Researchers at the MBARI have observed a deep-sea octopus brooding its eggs for four and one half years—much longer than any other known animal. Throughout this time, the female kept the eggs clean and guarded them from predators. This amazing feat represents an evolutionary balancing act between the benefits to the young octopuses of having plenty of time to develop within their eggs, and their mother’s ability to survive for years with little or no food. Although long-term observations of deep-sea animals are rare, the researchers propose that extended brooding periods may be common in the deep sea. Such extended life stages would need to be taken into account in assessing the effects of human activities on deep-sea animals. In any case, this strategy has apparently worked for Graneledone boreopacifica—it is one of the most common deep-sea octopuses in the Northeastern Pacific.Video producer: Susan von ThunScript and narration: Bruce RobisonProduction support: Nancy Jacobsen Stout, Kyra Schlining, Lonny Lundsten, Linda Kuhnz MBARI press release:http://www.mbari.org/news/news_releases/2014/octomom/octomom-release.htmlOriginal journal article: Robison B., Seibel B., Drazen J. (2014), Deep-sea octopus (Graneledone boreopacifica) conducts the longest-known egg-brooding period of any animal. PLoS ONE 9(7): e103437. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0103437
The dinner plate jelly is one of the ocean’s top predators MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-10-15 | The dinner plate jelly (Solmissus sp.) is one of the ocean’s top predators. This denizen of the deep has an appetite for other gelatinous animals. Jellies, comb jellies, siphonophores, salps—they are all on the menu for Solmissus. In fact, this jelly has one of the most diverse diets of all midwater animals—so far, we have seen Solmissus eating 21 different types of gelatinous prey.A hungry dinner plate jelly swims with tentacles held forward. Most jellies are passive predators who drag wispy tentacles behind their bells to catch food that gets trapped in their wake. But the dinner plate jelly relies on stealth to capture food. Swimming with those tentacles out in front allows Solmissus to catch their prey by surprise. Before prey can sense the pulses of the approaching predator, the jelly’s crown of tentacles snares a meal. Forward-pointing tentacles also help the dinner plate jelly catch animals with long tentacles or skinny bodies, like raking up twigs in the lawn.Using underwater robots, we can observe delicate deep-sea drifters without damaging them or disrupting their behaviors. We now know that jellies are some of the dominant predators in the ocean’s inky depths. They are also a food source for many animals and offer shelter in an endless expanse of open water.Learn more about this and other fascinating animals of the deep: mbari.org/animal/dinner-plate-jellyScript writer: Raúl NavaEditor: Ted BlancoProduction team: Larissa Lemon, Raúl Nava, Giovanna Sainz, Kyra Schlining, Nancy Jacobsen Stout, Susan von Thun, Kristine Walz Music: Relaxinator by Jon PresstoneReferences: Choy, C.A., S.H.D. Haddock, and B.H. Robison. 2017. Deep pelagic food web structure as revealed by in situ feeding observations. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 284(1868): 20172116. doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2017.2116Raskoff, K.A. 2002. Foraging, prey capture, and gut contents of the mesopelagic narcomedusa Solmissus spp. (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa). Marine Biology, 141: 1099-1107. doi.org/10.1007/s00227-002-0912-8
Meet Stellamedusa ventana, aka Bumpy! ⪮ #montereybay #jelly #jellyfish #deepsea #ocean #exploration MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-10-03 | This softball sized, translucent jelly moves through the water like a shooting star. Wart-like bumps of stinging cells cover its feeding arms and bell.This bumpy jelly is just one of more than 250 new species that MBARI researchers have found in the depths of Monterey Bay and beyond. Its genus, Stellamedusa, refers to the jelly’s translucent blue-white color and trailing arms, which reminded MBARI scientists of a slow-moving meteor or shooting star. Its species name, ventana, refers to MBARI’s remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Ventana, a deep-diving submarine robot that first recorded the jelly on video in 1990.Learn more: mbari.org/news/new-bumpy-jelly-found-in-deep-sea
New MBARI research reveals the dynamic processes that sculpt the Arctic seafloor MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-10-01 | MBARI researchers—working alongside a team of international collaborators from the Korea Polar Research Institute, the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, the Geological Survey of Canada, and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory—have discovered large underwater ice formations at the edge of the Canadian Beaufort Sea, located in a remote region of the Arctic.In a previous MBARI study, researchers observed enormous craters on the seafloor in this area, attributed to the thawing of ancient permafrost submerged underwater. While exploring the flanks of these craters on a subsequent expedition, MBARI researchers and an international team of collaborators observed exposed layers of submarine permafrost ice. The recently discovered layers of ice are not the same as the ancient permafrost formed during the last ice age, but rather were created under present-day conditions. This ice is produced when deeper layers of ancient submarine permafrost melt, creating brackish groundwater that rises and refreezes as it approaches the colder seafloor. This discovery reveals an unanticipated mechanism for the ongoing formation of submarine permafrost ice.The complex morphology of the seafloor in this region of the Arctic tells a story that involves both the melting of ancient permafrost that was submerged beneath the sea long ago and the disfiguration of the modern seafloor that occurs when released water refreezes. Learn more: mbari.org/news/new-mbari-research-reveals-the-dynamic-processes-that-sculpt-the-arctic-seafloorResearch Publication:Paull, C.K., J.K. Hong, D.W. Caress, R. Gwiazda, J.-H. Kim, E. Lundsten, J.B. Paduan, Y.K. Jin, M.J. Duchesne, T.S. Rhee, V. Brake, J. Obelcz, and M.A.L. Walton. 2024. Massive ice outcrops and thermokarst along the Arctic shelf edge: by-products of ongoing groundwater freezing and thawing in the sub-surfaces. JGR Earth Surface, 129: e2024JF007719doi.org/10.1029/2024JF007719Writer and video producer: Marike PinsonneaultNarrator: Eve LundstenScience advisors: Charlie Paull, Roberto Gwiazda, and Eve LundstenProduction team: Raúl Nava, Kyra Schlining, Susan von ThunMusic: Singing Strings - Background, Classical, Serious
Meet Tiburonia granrojo, the jelly known as Big Red ❤️ #deepsea #jellyfish #montereybay #bigred MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-09-26 | Big red jellies can reach up to a meter across. These jellies are covered in tiny harpoon-like cells that stun prey. Unlike other jellies, big red doesn’t have tentacles. Instead, a cluster of finger-like oral arms dangle beneath its bell that help the animal capture food.Big Red was first discovered off the central California coast in 1988, by MBARI staff. This jelly has been spotted across the Pacific Ocean, from Baja California to Hawaii to Japan.Something so big, with such a large range, remaining undiscovered for so long shows just how little we’ve explored the deep sea—and suggests that there is much more out there waiting to be found.Learn more about this and other remarkable animals of the deep: mbari.co/AnimalsOfTheDeep
New MBARI research uncovers the secret lives of sperm whales MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-09-24 | Sperm whales are the loudest animals on Earth and rely on sound to find food in the sprawling darkness of the deep sea. MBARI’s hydrophone, or underwater microphone, allows us to listen in, providing valuable insight into the mysterious lives of these ocean giants. This video shows a sperm whale’s echolocation clicks while searching, locating, and capturing its prey. The audio was recorded at MBARI’s cabled underwater observatory, the Monterey Accelerated Research System, at a depth of 891 meters (2,923 feet) on March 10, 2024. These ocean predators are seldom seen in the Monterey Bay region, but MBARI’s continuous high-quality sound recordings in the deep sea hear sperm whale clicks on almost half of all days. This finding reveals sperm whales spend more time offshore of California than previously believed. Animal sounds give us a lens into their lives. Sperm whale vocalizations contain rich information about who these animals are and what they are doing. The hydrophone can hear sperm whale clicks from a hundred miles away. Understanding where these animals live can help decision-makers implement protections for these endangered ocean predators and the environments they depend on. Learn more about sperm whale migrations: mbari.org/news/sound-provides-new-information-about-the-secret-lives-of-sperm-whales Learn more about the ocean soundscape: mbari.org/project/soundscape-listening-room Research Publication:Oestreich, W.K., K.J. Benoit-Bird, B. Abrahms, T. Margolina, J.E. Joseph, Y. Zhang, C.A. Rueda, and J.P. Ryan. 2024. Evidence for seasonal migration by a cryptic top predator of the deep sea. Movement Ecology. doi.org/10.1186/s40462-024-00500-x Video editing: William Oestreich and Kyra SchliningScience advisors: William Oestreich and John RyanProduction team: Lila Luthy, Raúl Nava, Susan von ThunSperm whale photo in video thumbnail courtesy of Tim Huntington
Meet our fleet 🌊🤖 #robotics #deepsea #oceantech #hightech #oceanlife #autonomousrobot #rov MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-09-19 | MBARI scientists and engineers collaborate to build and deploy innovative tools that are revolutionizing ocean science and helping us to better understand our changing ocean.The deep ocean is the largest habitat on Earth, but we still have much to learn about its processes and communities. Underwater robots provide us access to the ocean in ways never possible before. Remotely operated and autonomous robots allow scientists to observe the ocean’s chemical, physical, and biological features for longer periods than traditional ship-based observations and over broader spatial scales. MBARI is committed to continued innovation in marine robotics to bring new insights into the processes that affect ocean health. The ongoing development of new tools for ocean science serves as a shining example of what’s possible when scientists and engineers work together.
Get cozy and settle in for 10 minutes of soothing scenes from the deep MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-09-18 | To celebrate the upcoming autumn equinox, we’re sharing some of the animals of the deep whose shades evoke the fall colors we see on land. From golden yellow sponges and corals to ochre orange-hued crabs and anemones to crimson jellies and worms, the deep sea is home to a dazzling diversity of life. We never know what we’ll see on a dive into the depths. Our scientists, engineers, and submersible pilots are constantly amazed by the beauty of the animals and habitats we encounter. The trove of video filmed by MBARI’s underwater robots helps scientists document the stunning variety of life that dwells in the ocean’s depths so we can better understand humanity’s connection to the deep sea.Studying the amazing biodiversity of animals in the deep sea is increasingly critical. Overfishing, pollution, and climate change all threaten ocean health. Help us spread the word about protecting the important but rarely seen animals and habitats deep below the ocean’s surface.Learn more about the amazing animals of the deep: mbari.co/AnimalsOfTheDeepProducer/editor: Larissa Lemon Production team: Kyra Schlining, Nancy Jacobsen Stout, Susan von ThunMusic: Meditation by juiceAnimals in order of appearance: 00:00 Egg yolk jelly (Phacellophora camtschatica) and juvenile red octopus (Octopus rubescens) | 61 meters (199 feet)00:13 Red siphonophore (Marrus claudanielis) | 1,437 meters (4,713 feet)00:27 Blacktail snailfish (Careproctus melanurus) on grooved tanner crab (Chionoecetes tanneri) | 911 meters (2,989 feet)00:41 Red coffinfish (Chaunacops coloratus) | 3,309 meters (10,857 feet)00:56 Big-finned octopus (Cirroteuthis muelleri) | 2,725 meters (8,940 feet)01:13 Zoanthid coral (order Zoantharia) | 1,709 meters (5,607 feet) 01:23 Giant vent worm (Riftia pachyptila) | 2,301 meters (7,548 feet)01:34 Eryoneicus deep-sea lobster larva (family Polychelidae) | 1,219 meters (3,998 feet) 01:45 Lemon jelly (Aegina citrea) | 950 meters (3,118 feet) 01:58 Rosy bone-eating worm (Osedax roseus) | 842 meters (2,761 feet) 02:11 Shortspine thornyhead (Sebastolobus alascanus) | 978 meters (3,209 feet)02:23 Bloody-belly comb jelly (Lampocteis cruentiventer) | 743 meters (2,437 feet)02:36 Giant seed shrimp (Gigantocypris agassizii) | 853 meters (2,797 feet) 02:48 Yellow Picasso sponge (Staurocalyptus sp.) | 1,193 meters (3,913 feet)03:03 Flapjack octopus (Opisthoteuthis sp.) | 331 meters (1,085 feet)03:14 Cantaloupe comb jelly (Aulacoctena sp.) | 1,389 meters (4,558 feet) 03:28 Ribbon worm (Phallonemertes) | 1,630 meters | 5,348 feet03:41 Cold seep tubeworm (Lamellibrachia sp.) with deep-sea whelks and eggcases (Neptunea sp.) and lithodid crabs (Paralomis sp) | 1,322 meters (4,337 feet)03:54 Squat lobster (Munida quadraspina) | 823 meters (2,701 feet)04:08 Strawberry squid (Histioteuthis heteropsis) | 624 meters (2,046 feet)04:28 Firework jelly (Halitrephes maasi) | 940 meters (3,084 feet)04:46 Sea lily (family Bathycrinidae) | 1,993 meters (6,537 feet)04:58 Brisingid sea star (family Brisingidae) | 1,765 meters (5,791 feet) 05:12 Spiny-tailed shrimp (Systellaspis sp.) | 1,722 meters (5,650 feet)05:25 Deep-sea crown jelly (Atolla gigantea) | 1,019 meters (3,344 feet) 05:50 Hedgehog nudibranch (Bathydoris aioca) | 3,179 meters (10,430 feet)06:01 Giant Pacific octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) | 682 meters (2,239 feet)06:16 Giant phantom jelly (Stygiomedusa gigantea) | 1,013 meters (3,324 feet)06:41 Octopus squid (Octopoteuthis deletron) | 677 meters (2,220 feet) 06:58 Golden gorgonian (Acanthogorgia sp.) | 914 meters (2,999 feet) 07:13 Five-arm basket star (Asteronyx sp.) | 641 meters (2,103 feet)07:31 Whalefish (family Cetomimidae) | 1,647 meters (5,404 feet)07:45 Red paper lantern jelly (Pandea rubra) | 612 meters (2,007 feet) 08:03 California sun star (Rathbunaster californicus) | 366 meters (1,199 feet)08:13 Abyssal king crab (Paralomis sp.) | 1,332 meters (4,370 feet)08:25 Broad-belled siphonophore (Bargmannia lata) | 994 meters (3,262 feet)08:39 Red balloon jelly (Deepstaria reticulum) | 948 meters (3,110 feet)08:56 Spiny star (Hippasteria sp.) | 1,577 meters (5,173 feet)09:08 Red sea fan (Callistephanus kofoidi) | 1,244 meters (4,081 feet)09:22 Warty jelly (Halicreas minimum) | 967 meters (3,172 feet)09:35 Orange-gut arrow worm (Caecosagitta macrocephala) | 963 meters (3,158 feet)09:45 Primnoid coral (Narella sp.), black coral (Trissopathes pseudotristicha), and feather star (Florometra serratissima) | 2,668 meters (8,755 feet) 10:00 Basket star (Gorgonocephalus eucnemis) | 1,302 meters (4,271 feet)10:09 Big red jelly (Tiburonia granrojo) | 1,452 meters (4,765 feet) 10:20 Vampire squid (Vampyroteuthis infernalis) | 558 meters (1,831 feet)
MBARIs ROV Ventana has logged more science dives than any remotely operated vehicle in the world. MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-09-12 | From a control room in the heart of our research vessel Rachel Carson, a team of pilots and scientists fly the submersible as we explore the waters down to 1,800 meters (a little more than one mile) below the surface. Since 1988, Ventana has explored the depths of Monterey Bay, logging the most science dives of any remotely operated vehicle in the world. It has been critical to MBARI’s mission to advance marine science and engineering to understand our changing ocean. Learn more: mbari.org/news/mbaris-remotely-operated-vehicle-ventana-completes-4500-deep-sea-dives#dragonfish #DeepSeaFish #ROV #OceanExploration #DeepSea #DeepOcean
Were listening in on Earth’s largest animal 🐋#bluewhales #oceanlife #whalesounds #whale MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-09-05 | With the blue whale’s massive size comes a massive appetite. But isn’t always easy finding their primary food source—krill—in the vast and dynamic waters of the ocean. How do these gentle giants find food and survive?The Blue Whale Observatory is a network of acoustic instruments in Monterey Bay that aims to answer this question. The observatory records whale calls, krill swarm activity, and ocean conditions for four months straight every summer and fall. These detailed recordings reveal more about the predator, prey, and environmental dynamics that drive blue whales’ behavior.Findings from the Blue Whale Observatory can inform efforts to protect these endangered mammals. They also open up possibilities for studying other marine species in a similar way. Learning more about the dynamics of ocean life—from the tiniest krill to the largest whale—can help us become better stewards of our blue planet. Learn more: youtu.be/mue4UeaStfc?si=iXmmOf9o2WGEoZHD
Pass the phone at sea with @MontereyBayAquarium MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-09-04 | ...
The giant cusk-eel is one of the largest bony fishes in the deep abyss MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-09-03 | The giant cusk-eel (Spectrunculus grandis) is one of the largest bony fishes in the deep abyss. Sometimes called “swimming noses,” these fish rely on their large olfactory organs to sniff out their next meal. They are not picky eaters—a hungry Spectrunculus will dine on a variety of bottom-dwelling invertebrates like crustaceans, worms, and sea stars or just as happily nibble on decomposing carcasses. In the deep sea, food can seem scarce unless you know where to look. Poop, snot, dead plankton, and larger animal carcasses sinking from the ocean’s surface provide a tasty treat for seafloor scavengers. To find a feast in the vast abyss, it helps to follow your nose.Spectrunculus is just one of the many magnificent animals that thrive on the abyssal seafloor. As society looks to the deep sea for mining rare minerals such as cobalt and nickel, understanding the importance of this spectacular species and other abyssal animals has become especially urgent. Our research is revealing how human actions will affect deep-sea communities. We are providing the information policymakers need to guide their decision-making about the ocean, its inhabitants, and its resources.Next time you think about the ocean, remember these charming and curious deep-sea neighbors roaming the seafloor. Learn more about this and other fascinating animals of the deep: mbari.org/animal/giant-cusk-eel.Script writer: Lila LuthyEditor: Ted BlancoNarrator: Lila LuthyMotion graphics: Madeline GoProduction team: Larissa Lemon, Raúl Nava, Kyra Schlining, Nancy Jacobsen Stout, Susan von Thun Music: Classroom by Emi Nishida
The scariest thing in the deep sea is this: plastic pollution. #plasticpollution #deepsea #pollution MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-08-29 | Large amounts of discarded trash end up in the ocean. Plastic bags, aluminum cans, and fishing debris not only clutter our beaches, but accumulate in the open ocean and even the deep sea.In 2013, researchers in MBARI’s Video Lab conducted a comprehensive review of our meticulously-cataloged underwater video looking for observations of ocean trash. The largest proportion of the debris consisted of objects made of plastic. Of these objects, more than half were plastic bags. Plastic pollution puts deep-sea animals at risk. On the seafloor, bags and other plastic trash can smother marine life. In the midwater, drifting debris can entangle or choke animals or damage their delicate structures.
#tfw your spirit squad shows up 👏🏽🎉 #mbari #deepsea #deepocean #fypage #fyp #hypeman MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-08-22 | As we filmed this deep-sea octopus, Graneledone, gracefully walking along the seafloor over 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) beneath the waves, a rattail fish came into the shot (followed by a cutie krill sidekick).Rattails, also known as grenadiers, are often attracted to the lights on our remotely operated vehicles. These friendly fish are very curious and will come to investigate any disturbance on or around the seafloor. Presumably, this helps them find food in the darkness of the deep.
Cruising with a sleeper shark. 🦈💤 #sharkweek deepseashark #deepsea #shark #deepocean #fypage #fyp MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-08-15 | The Pacific sleeper shark, Somniosus pacificus, lives on continental shelves and slopes in temperate waters all around the world. This shark can be found from the surface to 2,000 meters and can be up to to 4.4 m (14 ft) long. Pacific sleeper sharks eat bottom-dwelling organisms such as fishes, octopuses, squids, crabs and snails. They are also known to scavenge the seafloor for dead animals such as marine mammals.
Unwind with the breathtaking beauty of deep-sea hydrothermal vents 🔥 #mbari #deepsea #fypage #fyp MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-08-08 | Some of the most stunning landscapes on Earth lie deep beneath the ocean’s surface. Volcanic activity on the seafloor creates scattered oases known as hydrothermal vents. These underwater geysers spew superheated water rich in dissolved minerals. When that scalding-hot water comes in contact with frigid deep-ocean water, the minerals crystallize, raining tiny flecks of “ash” to the seafloor. Those mineral deposits build up over time, creating breathtaking spires and “chimneys” that can grow to hundreds of feet tall.
Nimble autonomous robots help researchers explore and study the ocean MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-08-06 | Autonomous robots are essential to the future of marine science, engineering, and exploration. Understanding the ocean’s complex physical and biological processes requires robust observing systems, like MBARI’s long-range AUV (LRAUV). The LRAUV was designed to fill the need for a mobile underwater robot to observe upper ocean processes. It has been tested over 36,000 hours offshore across a fleet of eight vehicles and has a unique ultra-low energy transit mode, allowing the vehicle to be operated without a support ship. MBARI engineers have outfitted the LRAUV with various tools, allowing scientists to track and control the platform remotely and collect real-time ocean data through microbial sampling, bioluminescence, active bio-acoustic imaging, water sampling, plankton imaging, and multibeam mapping. The ocean is critical to life on Earth, but faces a fragile future and a rising tide of threats. Monitoring ocean health is increasingly urgent, but logistically challenging. Scientists need nimble research tools to scale our observations of the ocean and its inhabitants. We envision a future where robotic platforms, like the MBARI LRAUV, can monitor ocean health 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.Learn more about the LRAUV: mbari.org/team/lrauvWriter, narrator, video editor: Marike PinsonneaultProduction team: Heidi Cullen, Larissa Lemon, Kyra Schlining, Nancy Jacobsen Stout, Susan von ThunLearn more about MBARI’s work: mbari.orgSubscribe to MBARI’s newsletter here: mbari.co/newsletterFollow MBARI on social media: Instagram: instagram.com/mbari_newsTikTok: tiktok.com/@mbari_newsFacebook: facebook.com/MBARInewsX: https://x.com/MBARI_NewsTumblr: tumblr.com/mbari-blogLinkedIn:linkedin.com/company/monterey-bay-aquarium-research-institute-mbari-
Meet the M1 buoy ⚓️ #ocean #oceantech #technology #oceanhealth #oceanography #montereybay #monterey MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-08-02 | This buoy floats in the middle of Monterey Bay and has collected near-continuous ocean data for over 30 years. All life on Earth depends on a healthy and productive ocean, and this data helps researchers monitor changes in the marine environment. At MBARI, science, engineering, and marine operations staff work together to develop and maintain technology for ocean monitoring. Below the surface, the M1 buoy is tethered by a 1,500-meter-long (4,900 feet) cable extending down through the water column. Instruments attached to the buoy measure environmental conditions such as salinity, temperature, depth, oxygen, chlorophyll, and currents. Data collected from this buoy is shared with colleagues around the world and is helping inform ocean management and policy.
Revealing the stunning landscapes of deep-sea hydrothermal vents MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-07-30 | Some of the most stunning landscapes on Earth lie deep beneath the ocean’s surface. Volcanic activity on the seafloor creates scattered oases known as hydrothermal vents. These underwater geysers spew superheated water rich in dissolved minerals. When that scalding-hot water comes in contact with frigid deep-ocean water, the minerals crystallize, raining tiny flecks of “ash” to the seafloor. Those mineral deposits build up over time, creating breathtaking spires and “chimneys” that can grow to hundreds of feet tall.Less than 25 percent of the seafloor has been mapped at the same level of detail as the Moon or Mars. MBARI’s mission is to advance marine science and technology to understand our changing ocean—from the surface to the seafloor. For nearly four decades, MBARI has explored the deep ocean, recording thousands of hours of video with our remotely operated vehicles and mapping thousands of kilometers of seafloor using advanced robots. Together, these tools are helping to create a clearer picture of the amazing environments hidden in the ocean’s inky depths. The astonishing communities that live on and around hydrothermal vents have evolved to flourish under extreme temperatures and chemical conditions. The remarkable tubeworms, crabs, clams, and more that thrive here are found nowhere else on Earth. Now, with more companies looking to extract mineral resources from the ocean, it is more important than ever to study the deep sea and the wonders it holds. The maps we create and data we collect can help resource managers make informed decisions about the ocean, its inhabitants, and its resources. Together, we can safeguard these unique biological and geological treasures. Learn more about how MBARI uses cutting-edge technologies to gain unprecedented access to the deep seafloor: mbari.org/news/mbari-researchers-help-map-and-scout-for-hydrothermal-vents-in-gulf-of-californiaLearn more about the fascinating community that thrives at hydrothermal vents: youtu.be/JtV-FP212Uc?si=vCnmhJ7NfY1K7vPqVideo producer/editor: Kristine Walz Production team: Kyra Schlining, Nancy Jacobsen Stout, Susan von Thun Music: Meditation by TuneWaves (Pond5)Geological features in order of appearance: Note: The red dots are lasers 29 cm (11.4 inches) apart used for measurement.0:00 Venting chimney | 2,225 meters (7,300 feet) | Alarcón Rise, Gulf of California, Mexico0:18 Vent with upside down waterfall | 3,666 meters (12,028 feet) | Pescadero Basin, Gulf of California, Mexico0:33 "Beehive" venting | 2,248 meters (7,375 feet) | Alarcón Rise, Gulf of California, Mexico0:41 Inactive castle chimney | 1,512 meters (4,961 feet) | Axial Seamount, Juan de Fuca Ridge, offshore Oregon0:57 Cluster of giant tubeworms (Riftia pachyptila) on large chimney | 2,300 meters (7,546 feet) | Alarcón Rise, Gulf of California, Mexico1:05 Inactive chimney | 2,343 meters (7,687 feet) | Alarcón Rise, Gulf of California, Mexico1:13 Outcrop with tubeworms (Oasisia sp.) | 3,672 meters (12,047 feet) | Pescadero Basin, Gulf of California, Mexico1:20 Diffuse venting | 3,664 meters (12,021 feet) | Pescadero Basin, Gulf of California, Mexico1:29 Tall black smoker chimneys | 2,286 meters (7,500 feet) | Alarcón Rise, Gulf of California, Mexico1:38 Numerous small chimneys | 3,663 meters (12,018 feet) | Pescadero Basin, Gulf of California, Mexico1:45 Glitter Lake | 2,300 meters (7,546 feet) | Alarcón Rise, Gulf of California, Mexico1:53 Black smoker and giant tubeworms (Riftia pachyptila) | 2,309 meters (7,575 feet) | Alarcón Rise, Gulf of California, Mexico2:02 Large chimney surrounded by giant tubeworms (Riftia pachyptila) | 2286 meters (7,500 feet) | Alarcón Rise, Gulf of California, Mexico2:25 Inactive chimney with crabs (Bythograea thermydron) and squat lobsters | 2,303 meters (7,556 feet) | Alarcón Rise, Gulf of California, Mexico2:35 Small vent chimneys | 1,545 meters (5,069 feet) | Axial Seamount, Juan de Fuca Ridge, offshore Oregon2:41 "Beehive" venting | 2,248 meters (7,375 feet) | Alarcón Rise, Gulf of California, Mexico2:49 Sulfide chimney with alvinellid tubeworm fossils, eelpout (Thermarces cerberus), and crabs (Bythograea thermydron) | 2,300 meters (7,546 feet) | Alarcón Rise, Gulf of California, Mexico3:14 Upside-down waterfall with tubeworms (Oasisia sp.) | 3,665 meters (12,024 feet) | Pescadero Basin, Gulf of California, Mexico3:21 Black smoker chimneys | 2,259 meters (7,411 feet) | Alarcón Rise, Gulf of California, Mexico3:37 Black smoker chimney | 2,243 meters (7,359 feet) | Alarcón Rise, Gulf of California, Mexico3:45 Glitter Lake | 2,300 meters (7,546 feet) | Alarcón Rise, Gulf of California, Mexico3:54 Vent fluid | 2,237 meters (7,339 feet) | Alarcón Rise, Gulf of California, Mexico4:02 Large black smoker vents | 2,244 meters (7,362 feet) | Alarcón Rise, Gulf of California, Mexico
Watch this deep-sea shrimp zoom, zoom, zoom🏎 #deepsea #oceanlife #ocean #marinebiology #fypage MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-07-11 | These brilliant beauties are typically found in the midwater and feed on smaller crustaceans. #deepsea #deepocean #oceanlife #ocean #marinebiology #fypage
Eavesdropping on ocean giants: MBARI tech reveals the secret lives of blue whales MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-07-09 | Blue whales are the largest animals on Earth. And with their massive size, comes a massive appetite. These whales rely on tiny crustaceans called krill as their food source. But the vast and dynamic nature of the ocean can make it hard to locate a good meal. How do these gentle giants find food and survive?To find out, MBARI scientists set up the Blue Whale Observatory, a unique network of acoustic instruments in Monterey Bay. The observatory records whale calls, krill swarm activity, and ocean conditions for four months straight every summer and fall when blue whales are most acoustically active in the area. The observatory's detailed recordings reveal more about the predator, prey, and environmental dynamics that drive blue whales’ behavior.Findings from the Blue Whale Observatory can inform efforts to protect endangered whales and open up possibilities for studying other marine species in a similar way. Learning more about the dynamics of ocean life—from the tiniest krill to the largest whale—can help us become better stewards of our blue planet. Learn more about the Blue Whale Observatory at: mbari.org/project/blue-whale-observatorySenior producer, writer, narrator, deployment footage videographer, video editor, & motion designer: Madeline GoScience advisors: Will Oestreich and John RyanProduction team: Heidi Cullen, Larissa Lemon, Kyra Schlining, Nancy Jacobsen Stout, Susan von ThunSpecial thanks to Jeremy Goldbogen for providing the feeding blue whale footage, Elliott Hazen for the blue whale drone footage, and Monterey Bay Aquarium for additional ocean footage. Check out MBARI for more: mbari.orgSubscribe to MBARI’s newsletter here: mbari.co/newsletterFollow MBARI’s exploration, technology and discoveries: Facebook: facebook.com/MBARInews/Twitter: twitter.com/MBARI_NewsInstagram: instagram.com/mbari_news/Tumblr: https://mbari-blog.tumblr.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/monterey-bay-aquarium-research-institute-mbari-TikTok: tiktok.com/@mbari_news
Hagfish are relatively common in the deep-sea. 🌊 #hagfish #feedingfrenzy #deepsea #fypage MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-07-03 | Many hagfish species are notorious for their slime. When disturbed, they ooze proteins from glands in their skin that respond to water to create a slick outer coating. This expands into a huge mass of slime in just minutes to deter predators.Hagfish also play an important role in the deep-sea as scavengers, devouring carcasses on the seafloor from the inside out.#creatorsearchinsights #hagfish #hagfishslime #feedingfrenzy #deepsea #deepocean #fypage
Watch to see a sea cucumber swim. 👀 #seacucumber #monterey #ocean #deepsea #sealife fyp #fypage MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-06-27 | Most sea cucumbers live a sedentary life on the bottom of the ocean, eating sediment or detritus that rains down from above. But some sea cucumbers like this Benthothuria sp. leave the life of eating and pooping on the seafloor, temporarily swimming. They may do this as a defense behavior, or to find a mate. #seacucumber #monterey #ocean #deepocean #deepsea #sealife #marinebiology #fyp
In our decades of ocean exploration, we’ve only come across Magnapinna one time! 🦑 #cephalopodweek MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-06-21 | In 2001, MBARI geologists were exploring the seafloor with ROV Tiburon 3,336 meters (10,944 feet) deep off Oahu, Hawaii, when they came upon this amazing squid. They estimated the squid’s arms to extend four to six meters (13 to 20 feet). Scientists have never collected an adult Magnapinna specimen, making video clips of this remarkable squid even more valuable. In 36 years of deep-sea discoveries, MBARI’s remotely operated vehicles have completed more than 7,300 successful dives and recorded more than 28,500 hours of video. This video archive includes nearly 9 million annotations about what we see on video–these data are invaluable for scientists at MBARI and beyond who are working together to unlock the mysteries of the deep.#cephalopodweek #magnapinna #bigfinsquid #deepseasquid #squidswimming #deepocean #fypage
A deep-sea carrying giants eggs #CephalopodWeek #squid #deepsea #fyp #fypage #momlife MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-06-20 | During an expedition to Mexico’s Gulf of California in 2015, MBARI’s remotely operated vehicle Doc Ricketts encountered a mother squid cradling a cluster of eggs. This sighting was striking because the eggs were twice as large as those of other deep-sea squids we’ve seen brooding their eggs. Researchers from MBARI, GEOMAR’s Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, and the University of South Florida have learned this individual likely represents an unknown species of the family of Gonatidae and one that broods giant eggs.The deep sea is the largest living space on Earth, but an environment we still know very little about. Every new discovery we make is a new piece of the puzzle. Learn more about this dazzling denizen of the deep on our website. #MBARI #DeepSea #DeepOcean #fyp #MomLife
Such a distinguished gentleman! 🦑 #CephlalopodWeek #deepsea #squid MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-06-19 | The octopus squid (Octopoteuthis deletron) is unusual among squids. Typically, squids have eight arms and two long tentacles, making a total of 10 appendages. But as young Octopoteuthis mature into adults, their two feeding tentacles are reabsorbed into their bodies.Eight arms are not the only thing that stands out about this species. While exploring the midwater, we often encounter octopus squid in a distinctive posture: large fins spread wide, and arms with twinkling tips curled above the head. Light-producing organs called photophores flash with bioluminescence at the end of each arm.MBARI has spent several decades studying Octopoteuthis. Cameras on our advanced underwater robots have revealed insights into the mysterious lives of octopus squid, from their unique behaviors to their defensive strategies. Octopus squid and their deep-dwelling kin play a vital role in ocean food webs. Despite their ecological importance, we still know very little about the lives of deep-sea squids. MBARI’s work is answering fundamental questions about deep-sea cephalopods and providing vital information that resource managers can use to inform their decision-making about the ocean.
The octopus squid breaks the rules, having 8 arms instead of 10 MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-06-18 | The octopus squid (Octopoteuthis deletron) is unusual among squids. Typically, squids have eight arms and two long tentacles, making a total of 10 appendages. But as young Octopoteuthis mature into adults, their two feeding tentacles are reabsorbed into their bodies.Eight arms are not the only thing that stands out about this species. While exploring the midwater, we often encounter octopus squid in a distinctive posture: large fins spread wide, and arms with twinkling tips curled above the head. Light-producing organs called photophores flash with bioluminescence at the end of each arm.MBARI has spent several decades studying Octopoteuthis. Cameras on our advanced underwater robots have revealed insights into the mysterious lives of octopus squid, from their unique behaviors to their defensive strategies. Octopus squid and their deep-dwelling kin play a vital role in ocean food webs. Despite their ecological importance, we still know very little about the lives of deep-sea squids. MBARI’s work is answering fundamental questions about deep-sea cephalopods and providing vital information that resource managers can use to inform their decision-making about the ocean.The deep sea is closer than you think. What we do on land affects the ocean, even the animals and environments deep below the surface. By choosing sustainable seafood, refusing single-use plastic, and reducing our carbon footprint, we can help protect the amazing animals of the deep. Learn more about the octopus squid and other fascinating animals of the deep at our Animals of the Deep gallery: mbari.org/animal/octopus-squidScript writer: Megan BassettScience advisor: Stephanie BushEditor: Ted Blanco Narrator: Susan von Thun Production team: Heidi Cullen, Madeline Go, Larissa Lemon, Raúl Nava, Kyra Schlining, Nancy Jacobsen Stout, Susan von Thun Music: Brave Horizon No Drums by Humans WinReferences: Bush, S.L., and B.H. Robison. 2007. Ink utilization by mesopelagic squid. Marine Biology, 152: 485–-494. dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00227-007-0684-2Bush, S.L., B.H. Robison, and R.L. Caldwell. 2009. Behaving in the dark: Locomotor, chromatic, postural, and bioluminescent behaviors of the deep-sea squid Octopoteuthis deletron Young 1972. Biological Bulletin, 216: 7–-22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/BBLv216n1p7Hoving, H.J.T., S.L. Bush, and B.H. Robison. 2011. A shot in the dark: same-sex sexual behaviour in a deep-sea squid. Biology Letters, 8(2): 287–-290. doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2011.0680
MBARIs advanced underwater robots discover deep-sea squid that broods giant eggs MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-06-11 | During an expedition to Mexico’s Gulf of California in 2015, MBARI’s remotely operated vehicle Doc Ricketts encountered a mother squid cradling a cluster of eggs. This sighting was striking because the eggs were twice as large as those of other deep-sea squids we’ve seen brooding their eggs. The mantle length of the squid was 221 millimeters (8.7 inches), and the average egg size was 11.6 millimeters (half an inch).Researchers from MBARI, GEOMAR’s Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, and the University of South Florida have learned this individual likely represents an unknown species of the family of Gonatidae and one that broods giant eggs.While maternal care is common among octopuses, brooding has only been observed in a handful of squids. Most squid species leave clumps of eggs attached to the seafloor or release neutrally buoyant egg masses containing thousands of eggs that drift in the water column. These reproductive strategies require relatively low effort compared to providing post-spawning egg care. The deep sea is the largest living space on Earth, but an environment we still know very little about. Every new discovery we make is a new piece of the puzzle. Learn more: mbari.org/news/mbaris-advanced-underwater-robots-discover-deep-sea-squid-that-broods-giant-eggsResearch Publication:Hoving, H.-J.T., S.H.D. Haddock, B.H. Robison, and B.A. Seibel. 2024. Giant eggs in a deep-sea squid. Ecology, e4319. doi.org/10.1002/ecy.4319Producer/editor: Kyra SchliningProduction team: Raúl Nava, Nancy Jacobsen Stout, Susan von ThunMusic: Aeon by Theatre of Delaysbensound.com/free-music-for-videosLicense code: HT0ODTDX9UJY8ANU
Take a moment to gaze into the mesmerizing eyes of the deep-sea rattail fish. 👀 MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-06-06 | Rattails, or macrourids, are common throughout the world’s ocean. They are characterized by a distinctive large head and whip-like tail that tapers to a point. Big blue eyes give the rattail an edge at finding food in deep dark waters. Their keen eyesight reveals prey, like fishes and squid, darting just above the seafloor. There are over 1,000 species of rattails found worldwide, although MBARI has recorded less than 20 species during our numerous expeditions. Macrourid species are difficult to distinguish on video, so researchers often use species complexes to describe similarly-looking species.
Celebrate ocean exploration with a day in the life of an underwater robot MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-06-05 | As we approach World Ocean Day, we’re reflecting on 36 years of ocean exploration with MBARI’s remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Ventana. In operation since 1988, this robotic submersible has logged more than 4,500 dives—the most science dives of any remotely operated vehicle in the world.Five days a week, MBARI’s research vessel Rachel Carson leaves Moss Landing Harbor at 6:30 in the morning for a busy day of ocean exploration. From a control room in the heart of the ship, our team of pilots and scientists guide the ROV Ventana as it explores the waters 1,800 meters (a little more than one mile) below. After deploying the vehicle for six to eight hours, the team returns to shore.ROV Ventana is a versatile robot equipped with cameras to observe the remarkable animals and habitats that thrive in the depths of Monterey Bay. Our engineers use this vehicle to deploy and test cutting-edge technology that is helping us assess and track ocean health. The pilots and crew that work with Ventana take pride in supporting our scientists and engineers in studying our changing ocean. Join us for a look back at some of the highlights from Ventana’s past missions.Learn more about ROV Ventana’s accomplishments: mbari.org/news/mbaris-remotely-operated-vehicle-ventana-completes-4500-deep-sea-divesProducer/editor: Kyra SchliningProduction team: Nancy Jacobsen Stout, Susan von ThunMusic: Elevation of Dreams by Bruno Frietas (Motion Array)Scenes in order of appearance (scenes from Monterey Bay unless otherwise mentions): 0:00 Launch of the ROV Ventana | surface 0:03 ROV Ventana launch | surface 0:09 Pyrosome (Pyrosoma sp.) | 30 meters (98 feet) | Sur Ridge0:12 Giant siphonophore (Praya dubia) | 86 meters (282 feet) 0:15 Transit through midwater with jellies (Colobonema sericeum and Solmissus) | 401 meters (1,316 feet)0:17 Hula skirt siphonophore (Physophora hydrostatica) | 220 meters (722 feet) 0:19 Barreleye fish (Macropinna microstoma) | 637 meters (2,090 feet) 0:20 Green caterpillar siphonophore (Lilyopsis fluorocantha) | 385 meters (1,263 feet)0:23 Blue LED lights on ROV | 737 meters (2,418 feet) 0:28 Green caterpillar siphonophore (Lilyopsis fluorocantha) under blue LED lights | 368 meters (1,207 feet) | Morro Bay0:31 Bumpy jelly (Stellamedusa ventana) | 480 meters (1,575 feet) 0:34 Bumpy jelly (Stellamedusa ventana) collected in detritus sampler | 352 meters (1,155 feet)0:39 California sun stars (Rathbunaster californicus) | 203 meters (666 feet) 0:42 Collecting deep-sea whelk (Neptunea sp.) with suction sampler | 999 meters (3,278 feet) | Smooth Ridge, Greater Monterey Bay0:46 Deep-sea whelk (Neptunea sp.) sampled and placed in the Benthic Respirometry Sample chamber | 999 meters (3,278 feet) | Smooth Ridge, Greater Monterey Bay0:50 Pom-pom anemone (Liponema brevicorne) | 876 meters (2,874 feet) 0:52 Rockfish (Sebastes sp.) | 468 meters (1,535 feet) | Offshore Southern California0:54 Sand star (Luidia foliolata) | 402 meters (1,319 feet)0:58 Sand star (Luidia foliolata) collection | 398 meters (1,306 feet) 1:03 ROV Ventana collecting sediment using a push core | 675 meters (2,215 feet)1:09 Mushroom soft coral (Heteropolypus ritteri) | 393 meters (1,289 feet) 1:11 Broadnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus) | 402 meters (1,319 feet) 1:15 Humboldt squid (Dosidicus gigas) catching rockfish (Sebastes sp.) | 352 meters (1,155 feet) 1:19 Seafloor near Monterey Accelerated Research System (MARS) | 886 meters (2,907 feet) | Greater Monterey Bay1:22 Hydrophone plugging into MARS | 880 meters (2,887 feet) | Greater Monterey Bay1:27 Deploying hydrophone at MARS | 877 meters (2,877 feet) | Greater Monterey Bay1:31 Basket star (Gorgonocephalus eucnemis) | 206 meters (676 feet) 1:31 Sampling a glass sponge (Hexactinellida) with the DeepPIV | 623 meters (2,044 feet) 1:37 Whale fall “Grady” | 584 meters (1,916 feet) 1:39 Push core near whale bones | 584 meters (1,916 feet) 1:43 ROV Ventana and Pacific sleeper shark (Somniosus pacificus) | 673 meters (2,208 feet) 1:47 Red disk jelly (Poralia rufescens) | 1,917 meters (6,289 feet) 1:49 Juvenile rattail fish (Macrouridae) | 513 meters (1,683 feet) 1:50 Blue-tailed giant larvacean (Bathochordaeus mcnutti) swimming | 903 meters (2,963 feet) 1:53 Robust clubhook squid (Onykia robusta) | 393 meters (1,289 feet) 1:54 Spotted comb jelly (Leucothea pulchra) | 118 meters (387 feet) 1:57 Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) | 24 meters (79 feet) 1:59 Surface water | Smooth Ridge, Greater Monterey Bay2:01 ROV Ventana recovery | surface 2:04 ROV Ventana recovery on the back deck of R/V Rachel Carson
Just keep swimming. 🐟 MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-05-30 | We saw this black dragonfish at 440 meters (1,444 feet) in Monterey Canyon. Dragonfishes (family Stomiidae) are cunning predators. Although they are strong swimmers, they prefer to lie in wait and ambush unsuspecting fishes and crustaceans. Most have dark skin—pigmented with some of the blackest blacks known in nature—to stay camouflaged from their prey. Some dragonfishes dangle a luminescent lure from their chins to entice prey. When a tasty morsel comes close, their big jaws open wide, and sharp teeth snap shut.MBARI researchers have observed several different dragonfishes in the depths of Monterey Bay. The Pacific blackdragon (Idiacanthus antrostomus) and the longfin dragonfish (Tactostoma macropus) are the most commonly sighted species. Encounters with others are rare treats.
Deep-sea amphipods have evolved remarkable night vision capabilities MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-05-29 | In the midwater, the need to see without being seen in this dim, open environment, has led to extraordinary visual adaptations. Many midwater animals have evolved powerful eyes that allow them to detect prey, mates, and predators in the dark. New research by scientists at The University of Western Australia’s Oceans Institute and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History—including MBARI Adjunct Karen Osborn—explores the unique visual system of hyperiid amphipods, shrimp-like crustaceans that live in the ocean’s twilight zone.Hyperiid amphipods have evolved remarkably diverse eyes, each with different functional capabilities. Scientists have only discovered about 340 species of hyperiid amphipods, but the diversity of their eyes rivals that seen among the millions of species of terrestrial insects.Using 3D imaging and computational modeling, the research team compared the structure and function of the eyes of three different deep-sea hyperiids. Hyperia has evolved eyes that keep watch on a wide field of view, but can only visualize objects nearby. Phronima—commonly known as the barrel amphipod—and Streetsia can see well into the distance, but at the cost of a narrow field of view. Phronima has solved this problem by evolving a second pair of eyes for an expanded, but poor, visual field. Streetsia sees really well in a narrow ring surrounding their body that they use to continuously scan the surrounding water as they swim.While hyperiid amphipods live in a relatively simple environment—a wide expanse of open water—their individual behaviors and the need for transparent camouflage have driven the diverse eye structures among species in this group.Understanding the eye structures of these midwater amphipods may one day help us develop new technologies for seeing in dark environments like caves, outer space, and the deep sea.Jessop, A-L., Z.M. Bagheri, J.C. Partridge, K.J. Osborn, and J.M. Hemmi. 2024. Functional differences between the extraordinary eyes of deep-sea hyperiid amphipods. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 291: 20240239. doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2024.0239 Learn more about the barrel amphipod: mbari.org/animal/barrel-amphipodProducer/editor: Kyra SchliningScience advisor: Karen OsbornProduction team: Raúl Nava, Susan von ThunMusic: Secret Inquiries by Taras Shostukha (Motion Array)Animals in order of appearance:0:00 Hyperia sp. (hitchhiker amphipod) hitchhiking on Calycopsis simulans (midwater jelly) | 364 meters (1,194 feet) | Monterey Canyon0:09 Hyperia sp. (hitchhiker amphipod) hitchhiking on Aegina sp. (golf tee jelly) | 434 meters (1,424 feet) | Soquel Canyon0:13 Hyperia sp. (hitchhiker amphipod) hitchhiking on Solmissus sp. (dinner plate jelly) | 1,193 meters (3,914 feet) | Monterey Canyon0:18 Phronima sedentaria (barrel amphipod) brooding eggs inside a salp | 219 meters (719 feet) | Monterey Canyon0:27 Phronima sedentaria (barrel amphipod) brooding eggs inside a salp | 337 meters (1,106 feet) | Monterey Canyon0:37 Free-swimming Phronima sedentaria (barrel amphipod) | 458 meters (1,503 feet) | Monterey Canyon0:46 Free-swimming Phronima sedentaria (barrel amphipod) | 228 meters (748 feet) | Monterey Canyon0:57 Streetsia sp. (sharp-nosed amphipod) swimming past a green caterpillar siphonophore (Lilyopsis fluoracantha) | 318 meters (1,043 feet) | Monterey Canyon
The deep-sea crown jelly has adaptated to survive where food is scarce and predators are plentiful MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-05-16 | This regal resident of the midnight zone has unique adaptations to survive where food is scarce and predators are plentiful.The deep-sea crown jelly (Atolla sp.) is one of the most common jellies in the ocean’s depths. Most have a distinctive elongated tentacle that can be up to six times the diameter of the jelly’s bell. Scientists suspect that characteristic trailing tentacle helps this jelly capture food. As a hungry Atolla pulses along, that long tentacle snags crustaceans or other prey.
Delight in 6 serene minutes with graceful deep-sea skates and rays MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-05-14 | Unwind for six minutes with stunning footage of graceful deep-sea skates and rays filmed by MBARI’s underwater robots. Skates and rays are fishes related to sharks. They have a distinct, flattened body, and they swim and glide using a pair of large, wing-like fins. While we know a lot about the skates and rays that dwell in shallow coastal waters, we know relatively little about those that call the ocean’s inky depths their home.We often encounter skates resting on the sediment or skimming across the seafloor. Along with their expanded pectoral fins, some skates use their pelvic fins like legs to maneuver while hunting along the bottom or to propel themselves off the seafloor when danger approaches. Our research is filling in the gaps in scientists’ baseline knowledge of rarely-seen deep-sea skate species. These data are especially important as climate change and overfishing continue to threaten biological communities. The more we learn about deep-sea sharks, skates, and rays, the better we can protect them and their habitats.Learn more about deep-sea skates: mbari.org/animal/deep-sea-skateProducer/editor: Larissa Lemon Production team: Kyra Schlining, Susan von Thun Music: Lucid Dreaming by Dear Gravity (artlist.io)Animals in order of appearance: Note: The red dots in many of these clips are lasers used to help us estimate the size of animals and seafloor features. The horizontal lasers are 29 centimeters apart, and the vertical lasers are 2.5 centimeters apart unless otherwise indicated below.0:00 Bathyraja abyssicola (Abyssal skate) | 1,388 meters (4,553 feet) | Sur Ridge0:19 Amblyraja hyperborea (Broad skate) | 1,668 meters (5,472 feet) | Juan de Fuca Ridge0:25 Bathyraja trachura (Roughtail skate) | 834 meters (2,736 feet) | Sur Ridge0:31 Bathyraja microtrachys (Fine-spined skate) | 2,955 meters (9,694 feet) | Offshore Oregon 0:37 Bathyraja spinosissima (Spiny skate) | 2,199 meters (7,214 feet) | Offshore Oregon 0:50 Bathyraja trachura | 1,219 meters (3,999 feet) | Offshore Oregon 0:56 Tetronarce californica (Pacific electric ray) | 371 meters (1,217 feet) | Monterey Canyon1:15 Bathyraja trachura | 1,023 meters (3,356 feet) | Sur Ridge1:22 Caliraja rhina (Longnose skate) | 448 meters (1,469 feet) | Offshore Central California1:27 Bathyraja abyssicola | 1,367 meters (4,486 feet) | Greater Monterey Bay Area1:35 Bathyraja trachura | 835 meters (2,739 feet) | Sur Ridge1:39 Amblyraja hyperborea | 2,320 meters (7,611 feet) | Gulf of California1:46 Bathyraja trachura | 602 meters (1,974 feet) | Offshore Central California 1:52 Bathyraja spinosissima | 2,168 meters (7,114 feet) | Trinidad Canyon 1:59 Bathyraja trachura | 1,406 meters (4,613f feet) | Juan de Fuca Ridge2:10 Bathyraja spinosissima | 1,801 meters (5,909 feet) | Juan de Fuca Ridge2:29 Caliraja rhina | 374 meters (1,227 feet) | Monterey Canyon | lasers 23 cm apart2:35 Tetronarce californica | 282 meters (925 feet) | Offshore Central California 2:54 Caliraja rhina | 595 meters (1,953 feet) | Greater Monterey Bay Area3:01 Bathyraja abyssicola | 1,547 meters (5,076 feet) | Gulf of California3:07 Bathyraja spinosissima | 1,696 meters (5,566 feet) | Astoria Canyon3:14 Bathyraja trachura | 981 meters (3,217 feet) | Monterey Canyon3:19 Bathyraja spinosissima | 1,801 meters (5,909 feet) | Juan de Fuca Ridge3:38 Amblyraja hyperborea | 1,761 meters (5,778 feet) | Monterey Canyon3:45 Bathyraja trachura | 852 meters (2,795 feet) | Offshore Central California 3:51 Bathyraja spinosissima | 2,125 meters (6,971 feet) | Vance Seamount | lasers 30 cm apart4:16 Beringraja rhina | 352 meters (1,155 feet) | Monterey Canyon4:22 Bathyraja trachura | 1,101 meters (3,611 feet) | Sur Ridge4:29 Tetronarce californica | 403 meters (1,321 feet) | Monterey Canyon | lasers 23 cm apart4:34 Bathyraja spinosissima | 2,135 meters (7,006 feet) | Cascadia Basin, offshore Washington4:58 Amblyraja hyperborea | 1,753 meters (5,750 feet) | Juan de Fuca Ridge5:06 Bathyraja spinosissima | 2,037 meters (6,682 feet) | Cascadia Basin, offshore Washington5:19 Bathyraja trachura | 852 meters (2,795 feet) | Pioneer Seamount5:24 Bathyraja spinosissima | 1,531 meters (5,023 feet) | Juan de Fuca Ridge5:37 Bathyraja abyssicola | 1,234 meters (4,050 feet) | Sur Ridge5:43 Bathyraja trachura | 1,253 meters (4,109 feet) | Sur Ridge
Bioluminescence first evolved in animals at least 540 million years ago in soft corals ✨ MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-05-09 | A new study led by MBARI collaborators at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History explores the evolution of bioluminescence, nature’s living light show. A team of researchers, including MBARI Senior Scientist Steven Haddock, has learned bioluminescence first evolved in animals at least 540 million years ago in soft corals.Scientists have long been curious about the evolution of bioluminescence. To tackle the larger question of why bioluminescence evolved, we needed to know when this ability first appeared in animals. In search of the trait’s earliest origins, the team decided to peer back into the evolutionary history of octocorals, an ancient and frequently bioluminescent group of animals that includes soft corals, sea fans, and sea pens. Mapping out the branches of the evolutionary tree from fossil records, genetics, and bioluminescent behaviors revealed that some 540 million years ago, the common ancestor of all octocorals was very likely bioluminescent. That is 273 million years earlier than the glowing ostracod crustaceans that previously held the title of earliest evolution of bioluminescence in animals.MBARI’s Biodiversity and Biooptics Team is working to understand how and why animals produce their stunning luminescence.
Ultra-black camouflage keeps these fishes hidden in the wide open darkness🖤 MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-04-25 | Deep-sea animals have a variety of remarkable adaptations to help them hide in the midnight zone. But the fascinating fishes featured in this video have the best strategy to hide from predators and prey in this dark expanse: skin shades among the blackest of blacks known. While there is no sunlight deep in the ocean, more than 75 percent of deep-sea life can produce light, a process called bioluminescence. When a single photon can blow your cover, ultra-black camouflage keeps these fishes hidden in the wide open darkness and also enables them to sneak up on unsuspecting shrimp or fish for a tasty meal.Ultra-black fishes have unique structures in their skin that very efficiently trap and absorb light. Melanin—the same pigment found in human skin—is densely packed into super thin layers on the outermost surface of their skin. While most light photons are immediately absorbed, the specific shape, size, and configuration of these melanin layers scatters any missed photons into neighboring skin cells, where they are subsequently absorbed. Ultimately, ultra-black skin absorbs 99.5 percent (or more) of the visible light with virtually none reflected.Dive into the deep with MBARI’s Animals of the Deep gallery: mbari.co/AnimalsOfTheDeep
MBARI’s underwater robots find plastic pollution from the surface to the deep seafloor MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-04-22 | Too often, MBARI’s advanced underwater robots encounter trash. Even miles beneath the ocean’s surface we find garbage, much of it plastic. Plastic pollution puts deep-sea animals at risk. On the seafloor, bags and other plastic trash can smother marine life. In the midwater, drifting debris can entangle or choke animals or damage their delicate structures. Over time plastic trash breaks down into smaller and smaller bits and pieces called microplastic. Microplastics have been found throughout the ocean, from the surface to the seafloor. We still don't understand how microplastics are impacting marine communities. MBARI research is revealing our close connection to the ocean—how it sustains us and how human actions affect marine animals and environments. To protect the amazing animals of the deep, we need to stem the tide of plastic pollution. Single-use plastic items—like water bottles, takeout containers, coffee lids, straws, and shopping bags—make up a large percent of plastic waste. By refusing plastic packaging and choosing reusable alternatives, we can make a significant dent in ocean plastic pollution. Learn more about trash in the deep sea: mbari.org/know-your-ocean/plastic-pollution-in-the-deep-seaLearn how you can help from MBARI’s education and conservation partner, the Monterey Bay Aquarium: montereybayaquarium.org/act-for-the-ocean/plastic-pollution/what-you-can-doEditor: Kris WalzScript: Raúl NavaNarrator: Megan BassettAnimation: Madeline GoScience advisors: Kyra Schlining, Nancy Jacobsen Stout, Susan von Thun (MBARI); Margaret Spring (Monterey Bay Aquarium)Production team: Madeline Go, Larissa Lemon, Kyra Schlining, Nancy Jacobsen Stout, Susan von ThunMusic: Snowfall by Adi Goldstein (Artlist.io)References: Choy, C.A., B.H. Robison, T.O. Gagne, B. Erwin, E. Firl, R.U. Halden, J.A. Hamilton, K. Katija, S.E. Lisin, C. Rolsky, and K.S. Van Houtan. 2019. The vertical distribution and biological transport of marine microplastics across the epipelagic and mesopelagic water column. Scientific Reports, 9: 7843. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-44117-2Katija, K., C.A. Choy, R.E. Sherlock, A.D. Sherman, and B.H. Robison. 2017. From the surface to the seafloor: How giant larvaceans transport microplastics into the deep sea. Science Advances, 3(8): e1700715. doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1700715 Schlining, K., S. von Thun, L. Kuhnz, B. Schlining, L. Lundsten, N. Jacobsen Stout, L. Chaney, and J. Connor. 2013. Debris in the deep: Using a 22-year video annotation database to survey marine litter in Monterey Canyon, Central California, USA. Deep-Sea Research I, 79: 96-105. doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2013.05.006
Floating in the deep with the bloody-belly comb jelly. ❤️ MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-04-18 | Bloody-belly comb jellies are ctenophores. Like other comb jellies they navigate through the water by beating their shimmering hair like cilia. The sparkling display we see in this video clip comes from light diffracting from these tiny transparent cilia. At the depths where this comb jelly lives it’s nearly invisible to predators and prey because the color red appears black and allows the animal to blend into the dark background. These twilight zone treasures are found in the North Pacific Ocean and measure about 6 inches across.Dive into our Animals of the Deep Gallery: mbari.co/AnimalsOfTheDeep
Market squid (Doryteuthis opalescens) are one of California’s biggest fisheries #ocean MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-04-12 | Market squid (Doryteuthis opalescens) are one of California’s biggest fisheries, but their populations fluctuate drastically with changes in ocean climate conditions.⠀⠀As El Niño cycles affect productivity off of the California coast, scientists and fishermen will be watching squid populations closely. And as climate change begins to shift patterns of upwelling and other ocean conditions, Litvin hopes that research on the interactions between currents, krill, and squid will help people predict what might happen to this lucrative and vital species.⠀
The deep-sea spiny star scales towering corals for their favorite meal MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-04-09 | With a puffy and prickly body, the spiny star (Hippasteria sp.) is easy to spot on the deep seafloor. These stars roam the seafloor searching for a delicious dinner, and a hungry Hippasteria can be quite particular when it comes to feeding. For some, sea pens or anemones are their sole preference. Here in our backyard, spiny stars seek out prey that is particularly prevalent in the Monterey Bay and beyond: deep-sea corals.While some corals have evolved protective stinging sweeper tentacles to deter hungry predators, spiny stars are determined in their quest for a nutritious feast. They use tiny tube feet to scale a towering coral. When they find a good spot to stop, they wrap their arms around the stalk to hang on tight, then extrude their stomach out of their mouth to devour the juicy coral polyps. Hippasteria are important in restructuring the habitats where they live. As they leave dead coral skeletons behind, homes for new animals are created. This natural turnover keeps the community healthy and helps foster diversity among the fishes and invertebrates that live there.Animals that live deep in the ocean thrive in cold water and high salinity. Changes in climate at the surface ripple down to the depths below. Warmer and more acidic waters put deep-sea corals—and the animals that depend on them for food and shelter—at risk.Studying the animals of the deep is increasingly urgent. Overfishing, pollution, and climate change all threaten the deep ocean. What we learn in the field and in the lab improves our baseline understanding of deep-sea communities so we can assess and track ongoing human impacts on the animals and habitats far beneath the ocean’s surface.Learn more about the spiny star and other fascinating animals of the deep at our Animals of the Deep gallery: mbari.org/animal/spiny-starScript writer: Larissa LemonScience advisor: Chris MahEditor: Ted BlancoNarrator: Madeline GoProduction team: Heidi Cullen, Madeline Go, Larissa Lemon, Raúl Nava, Kyra Schlining, Nancy Jacobsen Stout, Susan von ThunMusic: A Beautiful New World by Jon PresstoneReferences: Mah, C., M. Nizinski, and L. Lundsten. 2010. Phylogenetic revision of the Hippasterinae (Goniasteridae; Asteroidea): systematics of deep sea corallivores, including one new genus and three new species. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 160(2): 266-301. doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2010.00638.x
POV: Time-lapse camera at the Octopus Garden MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-03-28 | Welcome to the Octopus Garden, at this nursery, warmth from deep-sea thermal springs accelerates the development of octopus egg. The Octopus Garden is the largest known aggregation of octopus on the planet—using an innovative sensor suite designed by engineers in MBARI’s Seafloor Mapping Lab we counted more than 6,000 octopus in a portion of the site and expect there may be 20,000 or more at this nursery.
Sit back and enjoy 10 relaxing minutes at the Octopus Garden MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-03-26 | Deep below the ocean’s surface, just off the Central California coast, thousands of pearl octopus (Muusoctopus robustus) gather near an extinct underwater volcano. MBARI and a team of collaborators used high-tech tools to monitor the Octopus Garden and learn exactly why this site is so attractive to these animals. After three years of study, researchers confirmed that Muusoctopus gather at the Octopus Garden to mate and nest in cracks and crevices bathed by deep-sea thermal springs. This site is the largest known aggregation of octopus anywhere in the world, with more than 20,000 octopus nests. The abundance of other marine life that thrives there underscores the need to understand and protect hotspots of life on the deep seafloor from threats like climate change and seabed mining.Learn more: mbari.org/project/the-octopus-gardenVideo credits:Producer/editor: Kyra Schlining Production team: Kyra Schlining, Nancy Jacobsen Stout, Susan von ThunMusic: Octopus Garden by Catechism (cccatechism.bandcamp.com)
Deep-sea friends showing off 💫 #ocean #deepsea #marinewildlife MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-03-18 | In 36 years of deep-sea discoveries, MBARI’s remotely operated vehicles have completed more than 7,300 successful dives and recorded more than 28,500 hours of video. This video archive includes nearly 9 million annotations about what we see on video–these data are invaluable for scientists at MBARI and beyond who are working together to unlock the mysteries of the deep.These fascinating finds underscore the dazzling diversity of life in the deep. As we continue to study the largest and least known habitat on our planet—the ocean—we promise to share our discoveries with you. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!
Deep-sea dancing with this snipe eel. 🪩 MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-03-14 | This unique deep-sea resident is Avocettina bowersii, also known as a snipe eel. Snipe eels in the family Nemichthyidae have thin, tweezer-like jaws that bend outwards. It was long debated how these fish actually eat, but we now know that they have tiny, backward-facing teeth that work almost like velcro. They use them to capture small crustaceans and bring prey into their mouths with a series of rapid chomps.
Meet MBARI: The Video Lab is the team at the heart of our stunning deep-sea video MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-03-12 | In 36 years of deep-sea discoveries, MBARI’s remotely operated vehicles have completed more than 7,300 successful dives and recorded approximately 29,000 hours of deep-sea footage. The MBARI Video Lab team is at the heart of this treasure trove of visual data. This video archive includes more than 10 million observations about what we see on video—animals, behaviors, interactions, geological features, marine debris, and more—along with location, depth, and surrounding habitat characteristics. Video is a powerful tool for studying the ocean. Cameras on MBARI’s advanced underwater robots help our scientists discover remarkable new species, describe communities, and assess ocean health. We’ve amassed a unique archive of deep-sea video that’s essential for research groups across the institute and beyond. The Video Lab’s deep-sea experts comb through thousands of hours of footage with eagle eyes to identify and label animals and objects we film.Recently MBARI has been piloting exciting new AI technology that will transform ocean exploration. The Video Lab is leveraging this visual data to train machine learning models to identify deep-sea animals with very promising results to date. Eventually, AI will support our team with more efficiently analyzing the ever-increasing stream of video collected by MBARI’s fleet of underwater robots. MBARI’s video library is a rich repository for education and outreach too. The Video Lab works closely with the Science Communication Team to produce videos and create other content that utilizes these invaluable archives to tell compelling stories about our research.We’re spotlighting various teams at MBARI to showcase the different ways we’re studying the largest environment on Earth. We hope this series inspires a new generation of ocean explorers. Dive in: mbari.co/MeetMBARILearn more about the Video lab on their team page: mbari.org/team/video-labVideo producer/editor: Dave Timko Production team: Heidi Cullen, Madeline Go, Larissa Lemon, Kyra Schlining, Nancy Jacobsen Stout, Susan von Thun
This deep-sea anglerfish is Chaunacops coloratus MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-03-07 | One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish. This deep-sea anglerfish is Chaunacops coloratus, related to one of the new species recently found in Chile on Schmidt Ocean Institute's #SEPacificSeamounts expedition. In 2012 MBARI researchers were the first to publish observations of these rare fish in their natural, deep-sea habitat. In addition to documenting these fish walking on the seafloor and fishing with their built-in lures, the researchers discovered that the fish change color from blue to red as they get older.
This curious critter is a worm like no other: The pigbutt worm MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-02-28 | Bobbing along in ocean currents a half mile below the surface is a worm like no other. Our team first spotted the unusual pigbutt worm (Chaetopterus pugaporcinus) in 2001 and had a tough time determining how to categorize such a curious critter. Working closely with our collaborators, DNA analysis eventually confirmed we had encountered a new species of bristle worm that drifts through the midwater instead of living on the seafloor.Over the last two decades, these worms have only been observed in Monterey Bay and a few near the Channel Islands off the southern California coast. This little worm is about the size of a hazelnut, and even using our high-resolution cameras, it took the eagle eyes of our expert biologists to spot these miniature orbs in the massive ocean. Our skilled submersible pilots were able to gently sample them and transport them back to the ship alive for detailed examination.Observing these animals up close in the lab also revealed more aspects about their natural history that we were unable to see in the wild. We learned that these incredible worms are bioluminescent, producing blue light in their body tissues as well as green glowing mucous secretions, an adaptation that may be used to deter predators.Chaetopterus pugaporcinus casts out a web of snot to capture bits of organic material called marine snow to eat. Mucus is a useful substance for snaring food in the deep sea where it may be sparse. Numerous other animals get their nutrition this way too. Animals of all shapes and sizes in the ocean perform an essential climate service by taking up excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and transporting it deep in the ocean. These assorted midwater mucous-feeders help repackage carbon to sink more rapidly to hungry seafloor communities.The pigbutt worm is just one of more than 200 new species described and named by our team and collaborators. We are working to catalog deep-sea animals and environments so we can predict how threats like climate change and mining will affect them.Learn more at our Animals of the Deep gallery: mbari.org/animal/pigbutt-wormScript writers: Kyra Schlining, Raúl NavaScience advisor: Karen OsbornEditor: Ted BlancoNarrator: Kristine WalzMotion graphics: Madeline GoProduction team: Heidi Cullen, Madeline Go, Larissa Lemon, Raúl Nava, Kyra Schlining, Nancy Jacobsen Stout, Susan von ThunMusic: Dramatic Documentary Background by MoodModeReference: Osborn, K.J., G.W. Rouse, S.K. Goffredi, and B.H. Robison (2007). Description and relationships of Chaetopterus pugaporcinus, an unusual pelagic polychaete (Annelida, Chaetopteridae). Biological Bulletin, 212: 40-54. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/25066579
MBARI is using robots and AI to study open ocean predators like white sharks MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-02-13 | A new camera system developed by MBARI’s engineers gives us a glimpse into the secret lives of ocean predators such as tunas, sharks, seabirds, and marine mammals. These marine predators play an important role in ocean ecosystems, but are challenging to study because they spend much of their time far from shore and dispersed across remote stretches of the global ocean. MBARI’s innovative Piscivore system combines advanced robots, cameras, and AI to observe ocean predators and document their dynamic surroundings.During a recent deployment, Piscivore observed a large female white shark (Carcharodon carcharias). We spotted several diving seabirds on camera, including common murres (Uria aalge) and cormorants (Phalacrocorax sp.). Piscivore also gathers visual data about the “neighbors” that live alongside ocean predators like sea nettles (Chrysaora fuscescens).Piscivore has already shown great promise as a platform for observing marine life. In 2023, MBARI had 10 Piscivore deployments, sampling an estimated 1,800 kilometers (about 1,100 miles) in the Monterey Bay area and encountering 10 species of fish, four species of marine mammals, and six species of seabirds. MBARI researchers envision Piscivore joining a fleet of advanced robotic technologies that work together to study the ocean and report real-time data so resource managers can assess and track ocean health.Learn more: mbari.org/news/innovative-camera-system-provides-a-closer-look-at-elusive-ocean-predators Watch a video about the Piscivore system and the team that works on it: youtu.be/sW7s55JACSc?si=9YFQpmHEcLh_Mtt_Video producer/editor: Kyra Schlining Science advisor: Jared FigurskiVideo production team: Lonny Lundsten, Raúl Nava, Susan von ThunMusic: Saturate by Dimitrix (Artlist.io)
The barrel amphipod is a hitchhiker that devours its host MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-02-08 | The midwater is a vast expanse of water between the surface and the seafloor. There are few places for rest or refuge here. The barrel amphipod (Phronima sedentaria) is a shrimp-like crustacean that adapts by living inside the repurposed bodies of gelatinous animals called salps.The amphipod uses its sharp claws to snag a salp, then rips out the soft tissues inside. But that salp is more than a meal—Phronima carries around the carved-out carcass as its home. It even “remodels” its shelter by reshaping the barrel and secreting chemicals to toughen the structure. Female barrel amphipods release their young inside the salp, and their hatchlings feast on the salp’s tissues.
Meet the threadfin snailfish, Careproctus longifilis MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-02-01 | Meet the threadfin snailfish, Careproctus longifilis—midwater marvel and world-famous TikTok influencer. Snailfishes (family Liparidae) are a diverse and thriving group of fishes with over 400 described species. Their pelvic fins are modified to form a suction cup allowing them to fasten onto rocks, corals, or research equipment, and hold tight in strong currents. MBARI's remotely operated vehicle got a great view of this snailfish's suction cup. These deep-sea snailfish are found at depths between 1,900 and 3,334 meters (6,230 and 10,940 feet) and measure up to 15 centimeters (about six inches long).Learn more about these fabulous fishes: youtu.be/C0vo2taQcfo?si=HHCSqUUnSFPtSUHU
Gliding through the week like this mama Gonatus squid. 🦑 MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) 2024-01-31 | For decades, marine biologists assumed that all squids laid their eggs in clusters on the seafloor, where the eggs developed and hatched without any help from their parents. However, MBARI scientists discovered that some female deep-sea squid, like this Gonatus onyx, brood their eggs by carrying them between their arms until the young hatch and swim away. Gonatus females will have approximately 2,000 to 3,000 eggs in a sheath between their arms for as long as nine months. During this time they are unable to feed and must rely on stored fats from previous meals. This observation of the first known parental care behavior by squid was also an important discovery made possible by the use of MBARI’s remotely operated vehicles.
