@natgeo
National GeographicIn 2001, a remotely operated submersible operated by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) photographed a small, never-before-seen creature in the ocean's lightless Midnight Zone—a translucent, bioluminescent worm resembling a pig's butt. Over 20 years later, scientists are still unraveling the mysteries of this strange creature. 📸 1/3: A rounded, semi-translucent, bilaterally symmetrical sea worm from behind, where concentric ovals give the appearance of a pig's butt. 📸 2/3: In this view, the worm shows its mouth, which typically faces downward as the animal drifts 3,300 feet below the ocean surface. 📸 3/3: A pigbutt worm observed by MBARI’s remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Doc Ricketts in the outer Monterey Canyon.
On the profile · Apr 8, 2025