During a recent expedition of the Nautilus EV ship, of the project Confidence in Ocean Exploration, Researchers found an unexpected scene in the depths of the ocean. The remote operating vehicle (ROV) Hercules captured, 688 meters below the surface, a delicate marine anemona that proved to be a fierce predator devouring an almost distracted isopod.
Hercules was exploring the Nafanua cone in the Mount Vailuluʻu submarine, inside the American Sanctuary Samoa in the South Pacific, when he captured the intriguing scene, which you see below:
In the video, researchers enthusiastically comment on the anemones. “It’s like we’re in a Barbie movie, it’s so pink and beautiful!” Says one of the people.
Until the scene changed abruptly. Isopod, a small crustacean, became one of the anemones, being captured by its poisonous tentacles.
The predatory feature is common in the sea anemones
Although it is an amazing scene, this predatory feature is common among anemones, which are closely related to corals and jellyfish. Its tentacles contain poison, which paralyzes small fish and, in this case, the isopod, which came too close.
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These observations are essential for scientists, as they help reveal the interactions between species that live in remote and poorly exploited areas. Isopods, for example, are a diversified group, with more than 10,000 species belonging to the order. They vary widely in size, but share some common features, such as bodies segmented in seven parts, each with their own leg of legs, as well as two pairs of antennae. They inhabit aquatic and terrestrial environments, as well as the well -known pipe.
Mount Submarino Vailuluʻu is an area of great interest in the South Pacific, located at about 3,700 km from Hawaii and 2,400 km from New Zealand. The expedition aims to expand knowledge of the biology, geology and chemistry of these deep volcanic habitats, environments that still maintain many mysteries about marine life and its dynamics.
