Top 10 Corals and Creatures in Mid-Atlantic’s ‘Deep-Sea Backyard’

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Top 10 Corals and Creatures in Mid-Atlantic’s ‘Deep-Sea Backyard’

NOAA Okeanos Explorer program, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and U.S. Geological Survey NOAA Okeanos Explorer program, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and U.S. Geological Survey
NOAA Okeanos Explorer program, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and U.S. Geological Survey NOAA Okeanos Explorer program, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and U.S. Geological Survey
Even though they are rare, we were lucky enough to see dandelion siphonophores on three dives during this expedition.
NOAA Okeanos Explorer program, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and U.S. Geological Survey NOAA Okeanos Explorer program, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and U.S. Geological Survey
In the words of our Telepresence Team Lead, Aliens exist and they’re closer than you think! Sea cucumbers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but almost all of them look they could be extras in the next Men in Black movie.
NOAA Okeanos Explorer program, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and U.S. Geological Survey NOAA Okeanos Explorer program, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and U.S. Geological Survey
Although we saw several sea spiders during the expedition, this one feeding on a solitary hydroid was particularly exciting!
NOAA Okeanos Explorer program, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and U.S. Geological Survey NOAA Okeanos Explorer program, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and U.S. Geological Survey
A Whiplash (Mastigoteuthis) squid waits in the water column while hunting in Phoenix Canyon.
NOAA Okeanos Explorer program, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and U.S. Geological Survey NOAA Okeanos Explorer program, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and U.S. Geological Survey
Blackbelly rosefish – these striking fish are fairly common in the rocky canyon habitats. Related to scorpionfish, the blackbelly rosefish is an ambush hunter and possesses venomous dorsal spines to deter predators. Image courtesy of Deepwater Canyons 2013 - Pathways to the Abyss, NOAA-OER/BOEM/USGS.
NOAA Okeanos Explorer program, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and U.S. Geological Survey NOAA Okeanos Explorer program, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and U.S. Geological Survey
One of the highlights of the dive, D2 imaged a beautiful hydromedusa in Washington Canyon. Hydromedusa have red-tinted stomached to camouflage any bioluminescence exhibited by their pray.
NOAA Okeanos Explorer program, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and U.S. Geological Survey NOAA Okeanos Explorer program, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and U.S. Geological Survey
This chimera swam by for a visit during our dive in Ryan Canyon.
NOAA Okeanos Explorer program, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and U.S. Geological Survey NOAA Okeanos Explorer program, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and U.S. Geological Survey
A pancake urchin (Hygrosoma sp.) moves across some discarded human debris. McMaster Canyon had the most evidence of anthropogenic impact that we have seen yet on this expedition.
NOAA Okeanos Explorer program, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and U.S. Geological Survey NOAA Okeanos Explorer program, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and U.S. Geological Survey
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Issue Brief June 18, 2014

Safeguarding the Hidden Treasures of the Mid Atlantic

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Issue Brief June 18, 2014

A vast stretch of the U.S. continental shelf’s edge in the Atlantic Ocean contains submerged cliffs, canyons, and seamounts that are just now being explored. These features form essential habitat for hundreds of species adapted to the dark depths, including magnificent deep-sea corals that can live for centuries.

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