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October 19, 2020: Crinoid

This vibrant red crinoid was imaged during Dive 04 of the Discovering the Deep: Exploring Remote Pacific Marine Protected Areas expedition, while exploring at approximately 1,200 meters (3,940 feet) depth on an unnamed seamount in the Tokelau Seamount Chain within the Phoenix Islands Protected Area. Despite commonly being referred to as “sea lilies,” crinoids are actually animals, and although they are typically attached to a hard surface, some crinoids can actually swim.

Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Discovering the Deep: Exploring Remote Pacific MPAs. Download larger version (jpg, 1.4 MB).

This vibrant red crinoid was imaged during Dive 04 of the Discovering the Deep: Exploring Remote Pacific Marine Protected Areas expedition, while exploring at approximately 1,200 meters (3,940 feet) depth on an unnamed seamount in the Tokelau Seamount Chain within the Phoenix Islands Protected Area. Despite commonly being referred to as “sea lilies,” crinoids are actually animals, and although they are typically attached to a hard surface, some crinoids can actually swim.

Learn more about these unusual animals in this mission log, “Crinoids: Deep-sea Lily-like Animals.”