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This page contains video and images of ocean invertebrates. Click on any image to view a larger version and for additional information.

Vertebrates: Fish / Skates and Eels / Sharks

Invertebrates: Sponges / Jellyfish, sea anemones / Corals / Sea stars, brittle stars, and sea urchins / Molluscs / Crabs and shrimp

Seafloor: Geologic features / Habitat / Bacterial Mats / Hydrates

camera icon Videos

Two species of shrimp at the hydrothermal vents at NW Rota 1 volcano. Collecting an unusual species of shrimp found at the hydrothermal vent. Scientists investigate Manning Seamount marine life collected from the Hercules biobox and basalt block. Asssorted images from the slopes of Bear seamount.

camera icon Two species of shrimp at the hydrothermal vents at NW Rota 1 volcano.

camera icon Collecting an unusual species of shrimp found at the hydrothermal vent.

slideshow icon Scientists investigate Manning Seamount marine life collected from the Hercules biobox and basalt block.

slideshow icon Assorted images from the slopes of Bear Seamount.

See Bamboo coral being preyed upon by a sea star. Basalt rocks covered in sea stars, crinoids, brisingid sea stars, sponges, and corals. A few swarms of crabs scavenging on some dead fish. Spider crabs, Macroregonia macrochira, were collected from a depth of 2900 meters on Pratt Seamount.

camera icon See a sea star prey upon bamboo coral.

camera icon Basalt rocks covered in sea stars, crinoids, brisingid sea stars, sponges, and corals.

camera icon A few swarms of crabs, scavenging on some dead fish.

camera icon Spider crabs, Macroregonia macrochira, collected at 2,900 m depth on Pratt Seamount.

See how a snail fish, family Liparidae, was collected with the Alvin’s sucktion gun. View a slide show of some of the sponges of the Alaska Seamounts. A scarlet king crab, from the genus Lithodes, which means ‘rock-shaped’ is dissected in the lab. A Mastigoteuthis squid, approximately six ft in length over 1,600 ft below the surface.

camera icon See how a snail fish (family Liparidae) was collected with the Alvin’s suction gun.

camera icon View a slide show of some of the sponges of the Alaska Seamounts.

camera icon A scarlet king crab from the genus Lithodes, which means "rock-shaped," is dissected in the lab.

camera icon A Mastigoteuthis squid, approximately six ft in length over 1,600 ft below the surface.

Video shot over 1,700 ft down in the Gulf of Mexico, shows the fluorescence of a benthic sea spider. A huge sea anemone retrieved during the submersible dive. A red gerion crab running along the sandy bottom. A bathyscaphoid squid swimming.

camera icon Video shot over 1,700 ft down in the Gulf of Mexico, shows the fluorescence of a benthic sea spider.

camera icon A huge sea anemone retrieved during the submersible dive.

camera icon A red gerion crab running along the sandy bottom.

camera icon A bathyscaphoid squid swimming.

A Venus Fly Trap sea anemone. A giant red shrimp hovers just above the sea floor. Slideshow of benthic invertebrates from the Charleston Bump Various sponges and octocorals collected during the Deep Sea Medicines 2003 Expedition.

camera icon A Venus Fly Trap sea anemone.

camera icon A giant red shrimp hovers just above the sea floor.

slideshow icon Slideshow of benthic invertebrates from the Charleston Bump.

slideshow icon Various sponges and octocorals collected during the "Deep Sea Medicines 2003 Expedition."

Isidid from Warwick Seamount Squid swim collecting a crab sample collecting sponges video

camera icon Crinoid swimming.

camera icon Squid swim.

camera icon collecting a crab sample.

camera icon Video of a sponge being collected.

Invertebrate slideshow Chyrsaora jellyfish Shrimp Organisms that live within the ice.

slideshow icon Invertebrate slideshow.

camera icon Jellyfish encounter.

slideshow icon Invertebrate slideshow.

camera icon Organisms that live in the ice.

ROV sampling and a jellyfish swim. Astoria Canyon Sights Alvinocarid shrimp Octopi

camera icon ROV sampling and a jellyfish swim.

Astoria Canyon Sights

Alvinocarid shrimp

Octopi

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Images

Sponges (Phylum Porifera)

Beautiful white sponge with purple crinoids on Retriever Seamount.

Beautiful white sponge with purple crinoids on Retriever Seamount. (HR)

Sponge encrusted rock collected at the Blake Ridge A "chimney" sponge and a fan-like sponge with associated sediment pile. A ‘chimney’ sponge may reveal new symbioses not previously witnessed. Glass sponge, found at a depth of more than 1500 feet

Sponge encrusted rock collected at the Blake Ridge.

A "chimney" sponge and a fan-like sponge with associated sediment pile.

A "chimney" sponge may reveal new symbioses not previously witnessed. (HR)

Glass sponge, found at a depth of more than 1500 feet.

A Clathria sponge bright-orange Forcepia An unexpected finds during the first dive, Acarnus sp. Recovered on the second dive a sponge from the Verongida family

A Clathria sponge. (HR)

The bright-orange Forcepia sponge. (HR)

An unexpected finds during the first dive, Acarnus sp. (HR)

Recovered on the second dive a sponge from the Verongida family. (HR)

The sponge Forcepia is the source of the lasonolides A bucket of marine sponges was collected during a single ROV dive at the West Flower Garden Bank A piece of basalt collected at 162’ Sponge and anemone

The sponge Forcepia is the source of the lasonolides. (HR)

Marine sponges collected during a single ROV dive at the West Flower Garden. Bank (HR)

A piece of basalt collected at 162’ (HR)

Sponge and anemone

Horn-shaped vase sponges A bizarre elephant sponge Skeleton shrimp Gooseneck barnacles

Horn-shaped vase sponges

A bizarre elephant sponge

Skeleton shrimp.

Gooseneck barnacles.

A hexactinellid sponge White cup sponges large hexactinellid sponge The Venus flower basket sponge

A hexactinellid sponge that anchors itself in the sediment with elongate spicules

White cup sponges.

A very large hexactinellid sponge

The Venus flower basket sponge.

Microscopic spicules Microscopic spicules from a pachastrellid sponge. Newly-discovered species of sponge A hard sponge

Microscopic spicules from Gorgonacea sp. of sponge.

Microscopic spicules from a pachastrellid sponge.

Newly-discovered species of sponge that looks like a Christmas tree.

A hard sponge

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Unidentified sponge. Deepwater lacy bryozoan. Deepwater fan sponge. a deepwater sponge.

Unidentified sponge.

Deepwater lacy bryozoan.

Phakellia sp. Deepwater fan sponge.

Leiodermatium sp., a deepwater sponge.

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Glass sponge with zooanthids Deep sea glass sponges a colorful sponge collected at 198 ft. A commensal amphipod emerges from a stinking vase sponge

Glass sponge with zooanthids attached.

Deep sea glass sponges retrieved at 1400 feet.

A particularly colorful sponge collected at 198 ft.

A commensal amphipod emerges from a stinking vase sponge.

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The fire sponge, Tedaria ignis Stacie Crowe holds a stinking sponge Variety of sponges Unidentified sponge

The fire sponge, Tedaria ignis.

Stacie Crowe holds the stinking sponge Ircinia campana.

Variety of sponges

Unidentified sponge

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Baseball mitt-shaped sponge

Baseball mitt-shaped sponge


Jellyfish and Sea Anemones (Phylum Cnidaria)

Purple anemone on a pumice rock along the east crater wall, West Rota volcano.

Purple anemone on a pumice rock along the east crater wall of West Rota volcano. (HR)

The rare and highly poisonous berried anemone of the Diaphus Bank Fields of white anemones along with a occasional orange gorgonians a deep-water anemone. White-plumed anemone

The rare and highly poisonous berried anemone of the Diaphus Bank. (HR)

Fields of white anemones along with a occasional orange gorgonians.

A deep-water anemone. (HR)

White-plumed anemone on the ocean bottom. (HR)

A flytrap anemone An unknown species of jellyfish. A jellyfish. Sea anemone.

A flytrap anemone.

An unknown species of jellyfish.

A jellyfish. (HR)

Sea anemone.

A large grouping of deep ocean sea anemones a comb jelly of the genus, Euplokamis An unidentified jellyfish. Portugese Man-O-War jellyfish

A large grouping of deep ocean sea anemones

Bioluminescence emitted by a comb jelly

A small planktonic jellyfish with green-fluorescent tentacles.

A tiny and very dangerous Portugese Man-O-War jellyfish

Porpida porpida jellyfish A pelagic pteropod A juvenile Bolinopsis ctenophore. Botrynema ellinorae.

Porpida porpida has a small disc like body and floats freely in the water column.

A pelagic pteropod.

A juvenile Bolinopsis ctenophore.

Botrynema ellinorae.

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The hydomedusae Aglantha digitale. The ctenophore Mertensia ovum The midwater hydromedusae Atolla tenella The scyphomedusae Chrysaora melanaster

The hydomedusae Aglantha digitale.

The ctenophore Mertensia ovum.

The midwater hydromedusae Atolla tenella.

The scyphomedusae Chrysaora melanaster.

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Midwater shrimp, Hymendora glacialis. Chrysaora jelly Medusae (jellyfish) jellyfish

Midwater shrimp, Hymendora glacialis.

Chrysaora jelly.

Medusae jellyfish

Jellyfish

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Anemone wall Deep sea anemone Sedimentary bedding planes with anemone, a white gorgonian (coral), and a tanner crab

Anemone wall

Deep sea anemone

Anemone, white coral, and a tanner crab

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Sea Stars, Brittle Stars, Sea Urchins, Crinoids, and Sea Cucumbers (Phylum Echinodermata)

Stalked crinoid on the caldera seafloor at West Rota volcano. Bouquet of Corallium with deep purple Trachythela octocoral, brittle stars, crinoids, and sponges. A close look at Metallogorgia with basket star. An asteroid sea star collected while feeding on coral.

Stalked crinoid on the caldera sea floor at West Rota volcano. (HR)

Bouquet of Corallium with deep purple Trachythela octocoral, brittle stars, crinoids, and sponges. (HR)

A close look at Metallogorgia with basket star. (HR)

An asteroid sea star collected while feeding on coral. (HR)

Crinoids, a sea star, and an anemone Miscellaneous invertebrates collected during the 2000 cruise to Bear seamount. A large brisingid sea star collected from Manning Seamount. Photo by Jon Moore. A pencil urchin collected, with tubeworms attached to its spines.

Crinoids, a sea star, and an anemone.

Miscellaneous invertebrates from Bear seamount.

A large brisingid sea star collected from Manning Seamount.

A pencil urchin with tubeworms attached to its spines. (HR)

A colorful crinoid is just one of the interesting creatures collected. This species of brittlestar, Astroporpa annulata, is related to basketstars and lives clinging to soft corals. Brittle Star Broken urchin, with its Aristotle’s Lantern fully exposed but intact.

A colorful crinoid is just one of the interesting creatures collected.

This species of brittlestar (Astroporpa annulata) is related to basket stars and lives clinging to soft corals.

Bright orange Brittle Star.

Broken urchin, with its Aristotle’s Lantern fully exposed but intact.

A beautiful pale orange and white sea urchin Observing the locomotion of a brittle star Sea star collected for analysis back at one of the onshore laboratories Sea urchin collected for analysis at the onshore laboratories.

A beautiful pale orange and white sea urchin.

Observing the locomotion of a brittle star.

Sea star collected for analysis back at one of the onshore laboratories.

Sea urchin collected for analysis at the onshore laboratories.

Sea urchin, collected during the JSL dive. Pillow Star A delicate juvenile sea star, Coronaster briareus A beautiful urchin, Astropyga magnifica

Sea urchin, collected during the JSL dive.

Pillow Star

A delicate juvenile sea star, Coronaster briareus. (HR)

A beautiful urchin, Astropyga magnifica. (HR)

Brittlestars A Brittle Star A sea star A red sea star

Brittlestars reflect the broad diversity of organisms.

A Brittle Star aggregation in the sandy channels at Cordell Bank.

A sea star

A red sea star (Virsingia sp.).

a beautiful red sea urchin. A pencil urchin Tiny brittlestars Bright orange sea star.

Coelopleurus floridanus, a beautiful red sea urchin.

A pencil urchin brought up from one of the trawls.

Tiny brittlestars. (HR)

Seabeam map of Northampton Seamount.

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A "flying" sea cucumber. Microscopic urchin Pencil urchin, brittle stars, and Lophelia coral Sea star

Summary I A "flying" sea cucumber.

Microscopic urchin

Pencil urchin, brittle stars, and Lophelia coral

Sea star

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Giant red brittle star Brown-striped brittle stars Red sea star Sea star and whip coral

Giant red brittle star

Brown-striped brittle stars

Red sea star

Sea star and whip coral

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Brittle star rosethorn rockfish and crinoids on a rocky ridge Crinoids and sponges Basketstars

Brittle star

Rosethorn rockfish and crinoids

Crinoids and sponges

Basketstars

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A featherstar and sponges Basketstars Seastars Seastar and shells

A featherstar and sponges

Basketstars

Sea stars

Seastar and shells

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White sponge and reddish crinoids Dover sole and pink sea urchins black crinoid Sea stars and sea cucumbers

White sponge and reddish crinoids

Dover sole and pink sea urchins

Black crinoid

Sea stars and sea cucumbers

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White sea cucumber communities Sea urchin and 4 types of Brittle stars

White sea cucumber communities

Sea urchin and 4 types of brittle stars

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Squids, Octopi, Snails, Clams, and Mussels (Phylum Mollusca)

Conical limpets (2cm, 0.75 in) cover the rocks surfaces at East Diamante. In places at NW Eifuku, mussels are so dense they obscure the bottom. The vent mussel Bathymodiolus. Galatheid crabs and shrimp graze on bacterial filaments.

Conical limpets (2cm, 0.75 in) cover the rock surfaces at East Diamante. (HR)

In places at NW Eifuku, mussels are so dense they obscure the bottom. (HR)

The vent mussel Bathymodiolus. (HR)

Galatheid crabs and shrimp graze on bacterial filaments. (HR)

Limpets were seen grazing near the seeping fluids.

April 2
Limpets were seen grazing near the seeping fluids. (HR)

A large purple octopus Three live nautiliniellid worms in the mantle cavity of the clam. giant mussel Cross-section of a female vesicomyid clam

A large purple octopus.

Three live nautiliniellid worms in the mantle cavity of the clam..

Giant mussel.

Cross-section of a female vesicomyid clam.

Muscle in a vesicomyid foot Epithelium of vesicomyid clam gill covered with cilia. Epithelium of vesicomyid clam gill covered with cilia. Bed of adult and juvenile mussels

Muscle in a vesicomyid foot.

Epithelium of vesicomyid clam gill covered with cilia.

Epithelium of vesicomyid clam gill covered with cilia.

Bed of adult and juvenile mussels.

Octopus, often collected and shipped to the Smithsonian for analysis.  iridescent nudibranch Spiny oyster and conglomerate. Large clams mussels line the cracks between the pillow lavas.

Octopus, often collected and shipped to the Smithsonian for analysis.

This iridescent nudibranch looks like a creature from another planet.

Spiny oyster and conglomerate.

Large clams and mussels line the cracks between the pillow lavas.

A deep sea octopus A squid An Arrow squid measuring almost two feet long.

Octopus. (HR)

A deep sea octopus

A squid found by the observers aboard the JSL

An Arrow squid measuring almost two feet long.

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octopus Animals found living in sandy sediments near rocky reefs. Typical benthic invertebrates A turkey wing mussel

This octopus was captured in an "Otter” trawl.

Animals found living in sandy sediments near rocky reefs.

Typical benthic invertebrates include marine worms, tiny crustaceans, clams, and snails.

A turkey wing mussel (Genus Arca).

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Octopi Squid octopus octupus

Octopi

Squid

Octopus

Octopus

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Chemosynthetic mussel Deep sea clam Mussel bed Mussel with gills exposed

Chemosynthetic mussel

Deep sea clam

Mussel bed

Mussel with gills exposed

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egg casings clams near a methane seep Mussels

Mollusc egg casings

Clams

Mussels

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Crabs and Shrimp (Phylum Crustacea)

Some common zooplankton collected near Close-up of a vent barnacle that we’re currently trying to identify. Small crabs and shrimp are actively roaming the venting area. Unusual spiny crab

Some common zooplankton collected near East Diamante volcano. (HR)

April 5
Close-up of a vent barnacle that we’re trying to identify. (HR)

April 2
Small crabs and shrimp actively roam the venting area.

March 30
Unusual spiny crab. (HR)

Crab striking an aggressive pose.

May 21
A crab strikes an aggressive pose. (HR)

A deep sea shrimp out in open water. Ice shrimp A parasitic isopod A tiny shrimp appears to be specially adapted to mimic the translucent color of the glass sponge.

A deep sea shrimp out in open water.

Ice shrimp.

A parasitic crustacean. (HR)

A tiny shrimp appears to mimic the translucent color of the glass sponge it inhabits.

A mass of amphipods collected with the carrion trap. A close-up view of an Amphipod. Cumaceans, also called lollipop shrimp. Isopods of the Order of Crustaceans.

A mass of amphipods collected with the carrion trap. (HR)

A close-up view of a tiny shrimp (amphipod).

Cumaceans, also called lollipop shrimp.

Isopods of the order of Crustacea.

This little gooseneck barnacle only lives on crab carapaces. Golden crab, Chaceon fenneri, with black-bellied rose fish. The deepwater galatheid Eumunida picta Longispina are commonly seen on the Lophelia mounds. Nezumia foraging along the edge of a basalt outcrop.

This little gooseneck barnacle only eats crab carapaces.

The golden crab (Chaceon fenneri) with a black-bellied rose fish. (HR)

The deep-water galatheid Eumunida picta Longispina are commonly seen on the Lophelia mounds. (HR)

Nezumia forage along the edge of a basalt outcrop. (HR)

Portunid crab Squat lobster. Porcelain crab. The shrimp Tuleariocaris neglecta, is reported to live amongst the spines of the long-spined urchin, Diadema sp

Portunid crab

Squat lobster.

Porcelain crab.

The shrimp Tuleariocaris neglecta. (HR)

A dorsal view of a small squat lobster, Galathea sp The three-toothed squat lobster, Munidopsis tridentata The painted squat lobster is a newly documented species in the Gulf of Mexico A painted squat lobster collected at Viosca Knoll

A dorsal view of a small squat lobster, Galathea sp. (HR)

The three-toothed squat lobster, Munidopsis tridentata. (HR)

The painted squat lobster is a newly documented species in the Gulf of Mexico.

A painted squat lobster collected at Viosca Knoll.

A close-up view of a painted squat lobster collected at Viosca Knoll Krill and phytoplankton Krills A molting sea spider.

A close-up view of a painted squat lobster collected at Viosca Knoll.

Krill and phytoplankton.

Krills from one of the ships engine filters.

A molting sea spider.

Juvenile crab Scarlet king crabs Pincher collection Spider crab missing limbs

Juvenile crab

Scarlet king crabs

Pincher collection

Spider crab missing limbs.

Adult male spider crab eating a female spider crab Gastric mill and teeth Crab ganglia Couesi eggs

Adult male spider crab eating a female spider crab.

Gastric mill and teeth. Crab ganglia. Couesi eggs.
Macroreg eggs Golden crab Unidentified crab in front of sponge. An unusual species of crab
Macroreg eggs.

Golden crab

Unidentified crab in front of sponge.

An unusual species of crab observed for the first time at the Lophelia coral banks.

A deep sea anemone A member of the calappidae family of crabs. Copepod with eggs. The amphipod, Gammarus wilkitzkii

A deep sea anemone and galatheid crabs seen on the Lophelia coral banks

A member of the calappidae family of crabs.

Copepod with eggs.

The amphipod, Gammarus wilkitzkii.

Close-up of egg sac. Eukrohnia hamata with egg sac. Amalgam of amphipods. A midwater amphipod species

Close-up of egg sac.

Eukrohnia hamata with egg sac.

Amalgam of amphipods.

A midwater amphipod species.

A hermit crab and invertebrate. members of the galatheid family, commonly known as squat lobsters. A variety of invertebrates

Gammarus wilkitzkii, a n under-ice amphipod. (HR)

A hermit crab and invertebrate.

These crabs are members of the galatheid family, commonly known as squat lobsters.

A variety of invertebrates

Red crab, Chayceon quinquedens Crab Crab megalops Chemosynthetic deep-sea mussels and crab

Red crab, Chayceon quinquedens

Crab

Crab megalops

Deep-sea mussels and crab

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box crab Porous mudstone and shrimp with eyes aglow Shrimp in deep-sea corals Alvinocaris shrimp and mussel bed

Box crab

Porous mudstone and shrimp

Shrimp in deep-sea corals

Alvinocaris shrimp and mussel bed

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Shrimp Shrimp collected from the Point

Shrimp

Shrimp


Marine Worms

A close-up of the tubeworm Lamelli brachia A strange spoon worm, an elegant sea pen, a stalked crinoid, and two xenophyophores with brittle stars. Microscopic image of Eunice norvegica worm.

A close-up of the tubeworm Lamelli brachia. (HR)

A strange spoon worm, an elegant sea pen, a stalked crinoid, and two xenophyophores with brittle stars. (HR)

Microscopic image of Eunice norvegica worm. (HR)

Dorsal (top) view of the anterior (front) end of the new nautiliniellid polychaete. Ventral (bottom) view of anterior (front) end of the new nautiliniellid polychaete. Simple hooked chaetae in anterior segments Trifurcate chaetae in posterior segments

Dorsal (top) view of the anterior (front) end of the new nautiliniellid polychaete.

Ventral (bottom) view of anterior (front) end of the new nautiliniellid polychaete.

Simple hooked chaetae in anterior segments.

Trifurcate chaetae in posterior segments.

Trifurcate (3-branched) chaetae on posterior segments Riftia tubeworms, mussels, and scavenging crabs at a hydrothermal vent. Live nautiliniellid worm. Chaetopterid polychaete removed from parchment-like tube.

Trifurcate (3-branched) chaetae on posterior segments.

Riftia tubeworms, mussels, and scavenging crabs at a hydrothermal vent.

Live nautiliniellid worm.

Chaetopterid polychaete removed from parchment-like tube.

Attached to a rock scientists discovered a Syllid. These tube worms are the size of pins and were found at the base of the orange sponge that was collected on piece of basalt Tubeworms at the Rose Bud site. Tube worms collected at an unknown vent site.

Scientists discovered this syllid attached to a rock. (HR)

Pin size tube worms found at the base of the orange sponge. (HR)

Tubeworms at the Rose Bud site.

Tube worms collected at an unknown vent site.

Tiny tubes built as housing by serpulid tube-worms. Polycheate worm Tubeworms and soft corals

Tiny tubes built as housing by serpulid tube-worms.

Polycheate worm. (HR)

Iceworm

Tubeworms and soft corals

tube worm colonies Closeup of tube worm colonies

Tube worm colonies

Closeup of tube worm colonies

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Protozoans (Phylum Rhizopoda)

Unusually large single celled protazoan organism. Xenophyophores Foraminifera Microscopic shells

Unusually large single-celled protazoan organism.

Xenophyophores

Foraminifera

Foraminiferan shells

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