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December 20, 2021: Crinoid and Snail

The crinoids in turn were serving as habitat for a variety of organisms, including a squat lobster and a small gastropod (snail), visible in this image.

Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Exploring Puerto Rico’s Seamounts, Trenches, and Troughs. Download larger version (jpg, 1.3 MB).

While exploring the east wall of Guayanilla Canyon starting from a depth of 2,100 meters (6,890 feet) during the Océano Profundo 2015: Exploring Puerto Rico’s Seamounts, Trenches, and Troughs expedition, we encountered a sponge stalk that was serving as habitat for several crinoids. The crinoids in turn were serving as habitat for a variety of organisms, including a squat lobster and a small gastropod (snail), visible in this image.