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Xenophyophore
The lighter-colored round object near the center of this image is a xenophyophore, seen during Dive 04 of the 2026 American Samoa ROV + Mapping Exploration expedition. Molecular analysis has confirmed that xenophyophores are single-celled organisms belonging to the phylum Foraminifera. They are only found in the deep ocean, building elaborate “houses” using material from the seafloor.