Photos: "Spectacular" Deep-Sea Species Found off Canada

Unidentified Sea Pen

Photograph courtesy Bedford Institute of Oceanography

An unidentified sea pen (pictured) belonging to the order Pennatulacea has been discovered during the July 2010 expedition on the Atlantic coast off Newfoundland.

Actually soft corals, sea pens are so named because their rows of polyps resemble old-fashioned quill pens, according to the University of California Museum of Paleontology.

(Related: "Hundreds of New Reef Creatures Found in Australia.")

Published July 27, 2010

Remotely Operated Vehicle

Photograph courtesy Bedford Institute of Oceanography

The expedition's remotely operated vehicle (vehicle arm pictured next to an unidentified object) observed and cataloged a deep seafloor region off the Flemish Cap (see map) that's never been subject to trawling or other human activities, according to the project blog.

Punctuated by large rock outcrops, the seafloor is covered in coral and sponge species never, or only rarely, seen by scientists.

(Related: "Pictures: Hard-to-See Sea Creatures Revealed.")

Published July 27, 2010

Solitary Cup Coral

Photograph courtesy Bedford Institute of Oceanography

ROPOS, the expedition's remotely operated vehicle, had a high-definition digital camera, which captured several images of rare species, such as this flower-like solitary cup coral. These cup corals are also common off North America's Pacific Coast, according to Louisiana State University.

(Also see "New Species Pictures: Deep-Sea 'Jumbo Dumbo,' More.")

Published July 27, 2010

Vase Sponge

Photograph courtesy Bedford Institute of Oceanography

A possibly new species of vase sponge was one of the bottom dwellers discovered during the expedition. The simplest multicellular animals, sponges have no organs but possess many "pores," which lead to canals and chambers, according to Bellarmine University.

(Related: "New Deep-Sea Creatures Found in Atlantic.")

Published July 27, 2010

Coral With Sea Anemones

Photograph courtesy Bedford Institute of Oceanography

Bright pink anemones "decorate" polyps of coral in the Paramuricea species in a picture taken during the July 2010 expedition off Newfoundland.

Sea anemones are coral relatives that usually attach to rock or coral. The animals have stinging tentacles that can paralyze and entangle small prey, according to the U.S. National Museum of Natural History.

(Also see "Pictures: Strange Sea Creatures Found off Greenland.")

Published July 27, 2010

Unidentified Sponge

Photograph courtesy Bedford Institute of Oceanography

This unrecognizable sponge species (pictured) is among the "major biological highlights" found on volcanic mounds off Newfoundland on July 20, according to the project blog.

"What an unexpected dive!" project scientists wrote after seeing this sponge, black corals, and other oddities.

(Related pictures: "Weird New Animals From Antarctica's Deep Seas.")

Published July 27, 2010

New Species of Bivalve

Photograph courtesy Bedford Institute of Oceanography

This recently identified species of bivalve mollusk was also discovered in the July survey of the Newfoundland depths. Bivalves—known for their "hinged," two-sided shells—can burrow into sediment or live on the ocean floor, according to the University of California Museum of Paleontology. Some species even snap their shells open and shut to swim.

Published July 27, 2010

"Spectacular" Sponges

Photograph courtesy Bedford Institute of Oceanography

This "spectacularly dense" bed of large white sponges of the family Geodiidae was captured during the Newfoundland project's last dive, according to the expedition blog.

The final dive, which covered a 4,000-foot-deep (1,200-meter-deep) span of water, revealed a vast array of habitats, from cliffside terraces full of sponges and corals to sandy bottoms nearly devoid of life.

(More pictures: "New Species, 'Living Fossils' Found in Atlantic.)

Published July 27, 2010