Vent Shrimp: August 5, 2011

NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Mid-Cayman Rise Expedition 2011. Download larger version (mp4, 11.3 MB).

 

"Indy, why does the floor move?"

Okay, so these aren't snakes, but rather vent shrimp that completely covered an 8-meter (26-foot) tall vent spire discovered while exploring the Von Damm hydrothermal field off the Mid-Cayman Rise.

During the Mid-Cayman Rise Expedition 2011, the team made several discoveries, including finding the first live hydrothermal tube worm (ever) in the Atlantic.