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April 4, 2021: Sea Cucumber

Seen during a 2017 American Samoa expedition dive at a depth of nearly 4,000 meters (2.5 miles) on the seafloor of Utu Seamount, this holothurian, or sea cucumber, was displaying an unfamiliar posture. Scientists thought it may be a feeding posture, but weren't certain.

Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2017 American Samoa. Download larger version (jpg, 2.7 MB).

Seen during a 2017 American Samoa expedition dive at a depth of nearly 4,000 meters (2.5 miles) on the seafloor of "Utu" Seamount, this holothurian, or sea cucumber, was displaying an unfamiliar posture. Scientists thought it may be a feeding posture, but weren't certain.

Check out this video of the sea cucumber to see it in “action.”