Newly Described Tridentisis Coral Spotted on Tutuila Ridge
During one of our first dives of the E Mamana Ou Gataifale II NA165 expedition on Tutuila Ridge, the Corps of Exploration came across some pretty awesome deep sea invertebrates. First up is a fun assemblage featuring a venus fly trap anemone and crinoids on glass sponge. Not far from that is a healthy example of newly described genus of bamboo coral (Tridentisis) given the zoom treatment by our video engineers. This species Tridentisis candelabrum was just described in 2024 named for all its branches aligning in one plane like an Aquaman trident or massive candelabra!
No previous seafloor exploration dives have been conducted on this unnamed ridge on the continental slope north of Tutuila Island, about 3 nm northwest of the National Park of American Samoa. This expedition revolved around exploring deep-sea habitats around American Samoa in collaboration and consultation with the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa and other partners, providing data needed from deep ocean areas to inform resource management and conservation priorities.
E Mamana Ou Gataifale II - American Samoa
American Samoa is the southernmost U.S. territory, centered in the South Pacific, 2,300 miles southwest of Hawaiʻi, and 1,500 miles northeast of New Zealand. It is home to the cradle of Polynesia’s oldest culture.
