Discarded plastic bag or actual living ANIMAL? 🤔⁠ ⁠ Not only is this an animal, but our researchers recently found out that this species of sponge, Docosaccus maculatus, actually moves! Researchers recently described never-before-seen behaviors of this spotted biscuit sponge as well as eight other species of sponges and anemones at MBARI's long-term study site, Station M. During a routine Station M cruise, researchers were scanning through time-lapse videos of the seafloor when they noticed something unexpected. The plate-like spotted biscuit sponge was frequently seen being swept across the seafloor by currents, like a tumbleweed in the wind. Seafloor sediment is very irritating to many sponges, yet these transient spotted biscuit sponges appeared to be completely unaffected by their travels.⁠ ⁠ Read more about these incredible new findings on our website (link in bio).

Dive deep, glide easy. #mantra⁠ ⁠ MBARI's mapping AUVs are equipped with four mapping sonars that operate simultaneously during a mission, giving researchers detailed one-meter-resolution maps of the deep seafloor, including sidescan sonar imagery that can penetrate sediments on the seafloor, allowing the detection of layers within the sediments, faults, and depth to the basement rock. The vehicles are launched on programmed missions and run on their own battery power until they return to the ship, as programmed, for recovery.