April 23, 2021: Black Coral
Image courtesy of the Ocean Exploration Trust. Download larger version (jpg, 455 KB).
From September 3-13, 2014, U.S. Geological Survey scientists led an expedition to explore the virtually unknown seamounts of the Anegada Passage, located in the eastern Caribbean. During the expedition, the team completed seven remotely operated vehicle (ROV) dives on three seamounts with ROVs Hercules and Argus, collecting 174 geological, biological, and chemical/water samples. Analysis of these samples will help to fit the puzzle pieces together as the team builds the first-ever baseline characterization of this region.
Imaged during the expedition, based on the size of this colony, our team estimates that this is a particularly old colony of Leiopathes (black coral species).
From: Mission Summary.