A pale squat lobster with red eyes clings to a branching coral structure in the deep ocean.
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Squat Lobster in Coral Branches
Deep-sea corals provide habitat for a wide variety of organisms. This squat lobster was observed living in the branches of a coral during Dive 01 of the 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration expedition.
Credit

NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration