August 30, 2021: Spiny Rockfish
Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Gulf of Mexico 2018. Download larger version (jpg, 964 KB).
This spiny rockfish (Trachyscorpia cristulata) has large eyes, a large head, and a tapering body. It was observed at a depth of approximately 435 meters (~1,425 feet) while exploring an area located just south of “Okeanos Ridge,” as part of the Gulf of Mexico 2018 expedition. The dive site was a priority area identified by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council for exploration.