Sea Squirt (IMAGE)

CSIRO Australia

Sea Squirt

Caption

One of Australia's deepest residents -- a bizarre carnivorous sea squirt, or ascidian, standing half a meter tall on the seafloor on the Tasman Fracture Zone at a depth of 4006 meters. The animal feeds opportunistically, triggered when a fish or any other swimming organism touches it. The animal is then trapped by the funnel-like front section, which collapses around the prey item.

Credit

Advanced Imaging and Visualization Laboratory WHOI

Usage Restrictions

Credit: Advanced Imaging and Visualization Laboratory WHOI

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