Deep-Sea Isopod Paddles by ROV Little Hercules

Is it a butterfly doing a backstroke? You may not know it, but this deep-sea isopod is a rare sight! Scientists still have much to learn about the long-limbed crustacean Bathyopsurus, as only a few specimens (of only two species) have been collected. Join our team marveling as this segmented sea creature uses its large paddle-legs to power backward up into the water column. Isopods in the family Munnopsidae are widely distributed worldwide, yet we still know very little about the basic distribution, biology, and ecology of this genus. Our Corps of Exploration spotted this individual with ROV Little Hercules diving over 5,100 meters (16,700 feet) deep on the abyssal plain in Cook Island waters, making this a new record for the region. Sightings like this remind us of how much work it takes to observe deep-sea animals in their natural habitat and how much we still have to learn about them.

The NA176 Deep Sea Habitats of the Cook Islands expedition is supported by NOAA Ocean Exploration via the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute using the ROV, mapping, and telepresence systems of E/V Nautilus to explore deep-sea areas prioritized by the Cook Islands government and local stakeholders. All collected data will be made publicly available to stimulate further exploration and research, and to support ongoing local management and future decision-making for the Cook Islands by Cook Islanders.