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NOAA Photo Library Image - expl0464

Yellow zooanthids on a glass sponge. Note that, though highly conspicuous under full light, they blend in with the sponge at blue wavelengths. These animals hav e been quite interesting because they also have bright green fluorescence and very strong green bioluminescence. They also stung our hands when we touched them, suggesting that some of these signals may be warnings of toxicity.

Image ID: expl0464, Voyage To Inner Space - Exploring the Seas With NOAA Collect
Location: Gulf of Mexico
Photo Date: 2005 August 30
Photographer: Sonke Johnsen
Credit: Operation Deep Scope 2005 Expedition: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration

High Resolution Photo Available





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