Close-up view of a translucent siphonophore with elongated, curling structures against a sandy ocean floor, featuring a thin gold filament.
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Black Coral
This black coral in the genus Abyssopathes was seen at a depth of 4,930 meters (3 miles) during Dive 06 of the 2026 Cook Islands ROV Exploration cruise. Black corals get their name from the dark color of their inner skeletons.
Credit

NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2026 Cook Islands ROV Exploration.