Scores of spectacular, rare and sometimes baffling unknown species were encountered on this year’s first-ever voyages to new deep ocean areas by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Curiously, a considerable number of them adorned the purple colour.
These include several purple animals such as:
- A bizarre purple “mud monster”: the “acorn worm.”
- Swimming purple sea cucumber, reminiscent of a flying Mary Poppins, found on NOAA’s Deepwater Exploration of the planet’s deepest known canyons, in the Pacific Ocean near Guam.
- A mysterious purple orb, likened by one scientist to a disco ball, that may prove to be new to science.
- A rare purple Vampire Squid, (Vampyroteuthis infernalis), a deep-sea creature nicknamed for its deep colour and red eyes (not because it feeds on blood).
- Stubby “googly-eyed” purple animal looking like a cross between an octopus and a squid.
It was gathered that, beyond being spectacularly photogenic, such animals help scientists better understand the web of life that sustains all species, including humans.
