Friday Deep-Sea Picture (9/21/07): Inverts From the Deep Gulf of Mexico

The Johnsen Lab at Duke University has several great high resolution (warning: slow loading) photographs of specimens from the Gulf of Mexico (Brine Pool, Garden Bank, Vioska Knoll, Green Canyon) between 1000 and 3000 feet. Photos are courtesy of their of the Johnsen Lab.

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The crab Paralomis cubensis

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The brittle star (serpent star) Ophiocreas sp.

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Image courtesy Dr. Erik Cordes, Expedition to the Deep Slope, NOAA/MMS The deep-sea gorgonian genus Iridogorgia sp. is characterized by a partially calcareous axis with an open, upright spiral or helix arrangement (Verrill, 1883) used to strain food from the water column. Three new species were…
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The following information is cribbed (with permission) from a FACTBOX produced by S&P Global Platts. Petroleum companies in the Gulf, especially around Houston, are are responding to likely shutdowns or possible damage due to the strengthening Hurricane, which is expected to have its largest…

Explanation: I had written about the 14days record in Ponza, of 6 divers living for 2 weeks underwater, but the link for some pictures is wrong.

Beautiful invertebrates!

And so close to home (for me at least), right here in the Gulf of Mexico. I regret that I'm only familiar with the local invertebrate "jetty trash".