NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2016 Hohonu Moana. Download larger version (mp4, 28.9 MB).
During the 2016 Hohonu Moana: Exploring Deep Waters off Hawaiʻi expedition, while exploring Castellano Seamount south of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in the Pacific Ocean, we encountered this small blind lobster, Homeryon asper. Named after the Greek poet Homer, this species is one of several in the family Polychelidae, found throughout the world ocean basins. While we don't encounter many of these crustaceans during our exploration, when we do, they are typically resting on the seafloor, so it was an unusual treat to get to observe this one swimming. Observations like this can help us to increase our understanding of the organisms that inhabit the deep ocean...and the better we understand, the better we can manage and protect the resources of the deep.