Ophiojura are the remains of the ancestors of starfish, who lived during the time when dinosaurs took their first steps on Earth. This amazing specimen is found in the seamounts of New Caledonia, known for harboring unique animals.
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[EN VIDÉO] These animals from the abyss with a strange structure The sea floor is teeming with strange creatures: transparent fish, giant squid and other vampire octopuses. The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in California has put together an amazing collection that we invite you to discover here in the video.
you know the Kulakanthi, and is often referred to as ” living fossil The latter is about 380 million years old, and still swims in the deep waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans. But it now has a rival in Thing Longevity: A type of eight-headed starfish called ophiogora that lives off the coast of New Caledonia.
I understood at first glance that this animal was really special مميز
This strange creature was discovered in 2011 by a team from the National Museum of Natural History (MNHN) from Paris during explorations Biodiversity New Caledonia submarine. Among the many Cash Discover during these expeditions strange brittle stars appeared, a class ofechinoderms considered as sea star ancestor. « As an expert in deep sea fauna, I understood at first sightEye That this animal was really special when I first saw it in 2015 “,” confirms Tim O’Hara, a researcher at Museum Victoria in Australia, who just described this unique specimen in the magazine Proceedings of the Royal Society B. « Ophiojura is a completely unique type of animal and until then it had not been described وصفAnd the Researcher’s enthusiasm. It is the last known species of an ancient lineage that separated from its closest descendants, 180 million years ago, at that time dinosaurs They took their first steps on tr. »
coarse jaw with sharp teeth
In addition to the analysis adn Compared with other marine species, scientists have been able to confirm the ancient origin of aviogora by comparing it Morphology With other small fossils found in the rocks Jurassic in northern France and strongly resemble this specimen. Ophiojura is really unlike any other animal: Armed with eight arms each about 10 centimeters long and equipped with thorns and hooks, it also has a jaw brimming with sharp teeth that it undoubtedly uses to tear apart its prey, says Tim. O’Hara.
Continuous development but very slow
« The term “living fossil” is often used to describe animals such as Ophiojura or coelacanth. In fact, this is not entirely true because no organism remains completely frozen for millions of years. they continue to evolve, Definitely in a very subtle way. The exact term for an ophygora might be rather that of an “archaic endemic” species: a representative of a branch that was once widespread and is today restricted to a very small area or to a single species.
Seamounts and biodiversity areas
These “ancient endemic” species are often found around sea mountains, Old volcanoes It is located between 200 and 1000 meters in depth. ” Currents revolve around them, bringing Nutrients From the depths or besieged Plankton From the surface that nourishes the growth Amazing coral reefs, gorgonians and sponges. These in turn welcome many other deep-water animals المياه ‘, explains Tim O’Hara. Many unknown species remain to be discovered in these places, asserts the researcher, who is planning a 45-day expedition on an Australian research vessel this summer. This excursion will explore the seamounts around the Christmas Islands and Cocos Islands in the eastern Indian Ocean, which have not been explored yet and date back 100 million years. ” Who knows what strange and wondrous treasures remain from the depths to be discovered ‘ Tim O’Hara concludes.
Crosota norvegica, a strange red jellyfish The presence of the red jellyfish (Crosota norvigica) was observed in the depths of the Arctic thanks to a remote-controlled submarine. © Kevin Rascoff, D
Galathea yeti crab or yeti crab: Kiwa hirsuta Yeti galathea (Kioa hirsuta) or yeti crab is a very distinctive crab. It was found in hydrothermal sites in the Pacific Ocean – Antarctic Ridge, south of Easter Island, and gave birth to a new family, Kiwidae. Its genus name, Kiwa, comes from the Polynesian deity of snails and crustaceans, and the name of its species, hirsuta, refers to its hairy appearance… © Ifremer, A. Fifis, 2006
Snail from hydrothermal vents in Japan These gastropod mollusks from hydrothermal vents are snails of the genus Alviniconcha associated with chemosymbiosis. This individual, found in the Suiyo seamount (Japan), is the only one of its kind ever discovered. © Yoshihiro Fujiwara/Jamestic
A strange squid called Teuthidodrilus This very strange worm (Teuthidodrilus) was discovered by American scientists in 2007 in the Celebes Sea, in Southeast Asia, by the name of the cuttlefish in English (“squid worm”). © Laurence Madin, WHOI
Sea angel: Platybrachium antarcticum This 3-centimeter animal looks like a ghost sea angel. Scientifically referred to as Platybrachium antarcticum, this translucent snail appears to fly deep into Antarctica, hunting petropods (other snails) for food. © Ross Hobcroft, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Male pycnogenide lay eggs This species differs from land spiders, except that it has four pairs of legs. This egg-carrying man was discovered across the Antarctic Peninsula during an expedition of Polarstern ANTXXIII-8. © Pablo J. Lopez-Gonzalez, University of Seville
The Lauras, or Cheilinus undulatus, is an endangered fish سمك With a length of more than 2 meters and 200 kilograms: here are the measurements of the dream tree fish (Cheilinus undulatus) that make it the largest coral fish in the warm waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans. Its beautiful blue-green color is reminiscent of Maori body paintings (a Maori adjective allows it to be called). Two additional characteristics: The designs on his body are unique, like fingerprints, and he can change gender during his lifetime. © Molly Timmers, NOAA PIFSC Coral Reef Ecosystem Division
Caribbean snail or Cyphoma gibbosum This tiger-like marine snail, known as the Caribbean mint (Cyphoma gibbosum), was photographed in the Gulf of Mexico, near Grand Cayman (Cayman Islands). Its beautiful color is only present in the soft parts of its body. The crust is white. © Casey Moody, D
Psychrolutes microporos, big-headed fish سمك Of the genus Psychrolutes, this remote fish is not in its favour when seen from the front. It was observed during the Norvans expedition at a depth of more than 1,000 meters, in the northwest of New Zealand. © Norvans Founding Party Photographer Keren Barkingson; Additional thanks to Peter MacMillan and Andrew Stewart
Sea cucumber in the abyss: Psychropotes longicauda The sea cucumber Psychropotes longicauda feeds on the sediments it finds around the manganese nodules that line the ocean floor. To save energy, he uses his “sail” as a means of navigation. This person was photographed at a depth of 5000 meters in the abyss of the Pacific Ocean. © Ifremer, Nordinaut Cruise 2004
Spirobranchus giganteus . Christmas tree worm The Christmas tree worm (Spirobranchus giganteus), also called the spirobranch of the Christmas tree, is aptly named: its spiral feathers give it a distinctive conical shape. It clings to corals in tropical oceans, such as here on Lizard Island, near Australia. © John Huisman Murdoch University
The amazing sea cucumber of the genus Enypniastes This pink animal is not a jellyfish but a swimming sea cucumber. Observed in the Celebes Sea, at a depth of 2500 m, this animal of the genus Enypniastes moves slowly, in particular thanks to its collar that serves as a stabilizer and a pusher. © Laurence Madin, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Siphonophore Marrus orthocanna and his multiple stomach It is not a submarine missile but a siphonophore (Marrus orthocanna). Near the jellyfish, this animal actually consists of a colony of individuals, including several stomachs. Many samples were seen at a depth of 300 to 1500 meters. © Kevin Rascoff, D
Beautiful sea anemones called Actinoscyphia aurelia This carnivorous, plant-like anemone was photographed in the Gulf of Mexico, and belongs to the genus Actinoscyphia. © Ian MacDonald, Florida State University
Paguridae hermit crab and sea anemones This hermit crab Paguridae has established a special relationship with a specific species of sea anemones that finds its habitat on the animal’s shell. The bright color of crustacean tentacles is unusual and can be of particular benefit. © Susan Middleton 2007 D
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