THE FLOOR IS LAVA!!! #literally⁠ ⁠ This deep-sea spider crab (Macroregonia macrochira) was found walking along at 1,530 meters deep (5,019 feet). The video was taken at Axial Seamount, an active underwater volcano and seafloor spreading center about 500 kilometers (300 miles) off the coast of Washington state. These crabs are typically found on seafloor lava flows and other hard-bottom areas. They are particularly common around deep-sea hydrothermal vents, where they are one of the main predators, feeding on tubeworms, clams, and other mollusks.⁠ ⁠ #MBARI #deepsea #ocean #deepseabuffet #volcano #underwatervideo #nature #explore #science #exploremore #wildlife #crabs #thefloorislava

The many faces of Paraphyllina sp. #faceless⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ This crimson jellyfish uses the color red to camouflage itself in the deep sea. Because wavelengths of light in the red end of the spectrum are preferentially absorbed by seawater, red animals disappear into the darkness of the deep ocean. This enables them to ambush unsuspecting prey or avoid a hungry predator. The red pigment may also help to mask any bioluminescent prey that it has eaten.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ MBARI researchers use ROVs (and their bright lights) to see these enigmatic animals in their habitat and gain more knowledge about their ecology.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ #MBARI #deepsea #ocean #oceanlife #jellyfish #deepsealife #underwaterphotography #marinebiology #wildlife #agirlhasnoname⁠⠀