As we moved upslope during Dive 16 of the 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones expedition and began to encounter larger ferromanganese boulders mixed with smaller nodules, we saw several of these larger rosellid “mushroom” sponges. In this more “bouldery” habitat, we also observed stalked barnacles, a potential Eknomisis sp. bamboo coral, and several Anthomastus sp. soft corals.
Rosellid “Mushroom” Sponges
Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones: New England and Corner Rise Seamounts. Download larger version (jpg, 981 KB).

As we moved upslope during Dive 16 of the 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones expedition and began to encounter larger ferromanganese boulders mixed with smaller nodules, we saw several of these larger rosellid “mushroom” sponges. In this more “bouldery” habitat, we also observed stalked barnacles, a potential Eknomisis sp. bamboo coral, and several Anthomastus sp. soft corals.

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