Channel: EVNautilus

Category: Science & Technology

Tags: marine biologybiologye/v nautilusrov herculescorps of explorationnautilus livegeologyocean explorationrobert ballardrov argus

Description: Even being translucent didn't stop these animals from catching our eye during ROV dives in the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. Meet the translucent tunicate and the see-through sea cucumber! The first mysterious marine invertebrate is called a tunicate from the Culeolus genus. These sessile organisms and their shallow-water relatives are commonly called “sea squirts” due to their tendency to expel or "squirt" out water when removed from the water. Part of the Phylum Chordata, believe it or not, this ascidian is more closely related to humans than any other of our common seafloor sightings. Tunicates have a tough carbohydrate body tunic that surrounds their water-pumping siphons and other organs. Listen to our Corps of Exploration wonder at this extraterrestrial-looking underwater animal and the associated biodiversity living alongside it. The second see-through sighting was a swimming sea cucumber or holothurian. Certain sea cucumbers can take flight to avoid predators and move to new seafloor locations for feeding. Lit up by ROV Hercules' cameras, the details of the animal's mouth, gut, and tentacles can be clearly seen. -- Learn more about this expedition in and around Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument funded by NOAA Ocean Exploration via the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute: nautl.us/3NdSMFx E/V Nautilus is exploring unknown regions of the ocean seeking out new discoveries in biology, geology, and archaeology. Join us 24/7 for live video from the seafloor and to ask questions of our explorers currently aboard Nautilus: nautiluslive.org. Follow us on social media for dive updates, expedition highlights, and more: Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=EVNautilus Facebook: facebook.com/nautiluslive Twitter: twitter.com/evnautilus Instagram: instagram.com/nautiluslive