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September 14, 2021: Crab Eating a Ctenophore

While exploring a relatively shallow dive site at a landslide debris field between Alvin and Nantucket Canyons during the final dive of the Northeast U.S. Canyons Expedition 2013, we observed this crab feasting on a benthic ctenophore.

Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Northeast U.S. Canyons Expedition 2013. Download larger version (jpg, 1.4 MB).

While exploring a relatively shallow dive site at a landslide debris field between Alvin and Nantucket Canyons during the final dive of the Northeast U.S. Canyons Expedition 2013, we observed this crab feasting on a benthic ctenophore. This was one of several predation events seen during the dive, with observations also being made of a squid eating a fish and a fish eating something unidentifiable. While observations of predation events definitely rank high on the "cool" factor, being able to witness these kinds of interactions live offers scientists unique glimpses into the lives and behaviors of animals of the deep.