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January 19, 2021: Sea Mouse

This curious critter is actually a type of marine polychaete worm with the common name of “sea mouse” due to its mouselike appearance and behavior. Not necessarily what comes to mind when thinking about “worms,” but sometimes the deep ocean defies expectations. This sea mouse was seen during the Gulf of Mexico 2012 expedition, while exploring the Biloxi salt dome.

Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Gulf of Mexico 2012. Download larger version (jpg, 2.0 MB).

This curious critter is actually a type of marine polychaete worm with the common name of “sea mouse” due to its mouselike appearance and behavior. Not necessarily what comes to mind when thinking about “worms,” but sometimes the deep ocean defies expectations. This sea mouse was seen during the Gulf of Mexico 2012 expedition, while exploring the Biloxi salt dome.