Bright Red Velvet Whalefish in Palau
Our Corps of Exploration spotted this bright red velvet whalefish (Barbourisia rufa) while exploring an unnamed ridge located roughly 30 nm southeast of Angaur, and just inside the boundaries of the Palau National Marine Sanctuary. This deep-sea fish is found around the world but especially in the Pacific Ocean. It’s named for its resemblance to a whale: small pectoral and pelvic fins, and dorsal and anal fins set far back. Scientists don’t know much about this benthic species but suspect they feed on crustaceans.
The NA168 Lebuu’s Voyage expedition to explore the deep sea inside and around the Palau National Marine Sanctuary was conducted in partnership with the Palau International Coral Reef Center and funded by NOAA Ocean Exploration via the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute. It was named Lebuu’s Voyage by Palauan stakeholders as part of a strategic effort to advance traditional knowledge and best practices in tandem with scientific understanding.
Lebuu's Voyage II - Palau
Building on the progress in the first expedition, this 11-day expedition will continue exploring Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS) to understand seafloor features and the biodiversity that call deep sea habitats around Palau home. Specific cruise objectives will continue to be refined as we work with community and scientific partners.
