Video courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Deep-Sea Symphony: Exploring the Musicians Seamounts. Download larger version (mp4, 8.6 MB).
In 2017, while exploring at 835 meters (2,740 feet) depth just outside Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument as part of the Deep-Sea Symphony: Exploring the Musicians Seamounts expedition, we made this unusual observation of a six-gilled stingray, Hexatrygon bickelli. Although these animals are found across the Pacific, scientists know almost nothing about the biology of this species.
This could be the first live sighting of this animal. Still so many mysteries to unlock about our ocean…