slideshow

Deep Ocean Census of Marine Life

The robotic arm of the ROV Quest finds life at an undersea vent.
Preview Researchers use underwater equipment to measure a skate (Bathyraja richardsoni) on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
Preview Scientists believe orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) live 150 years or more.
The robotic arm of the ROV Quest finds life at an undersea vent.

Studying Hydrothermal Vent Life

Credit: MARUM, Bremen University/ChEss, Census of Marine Life
Census researchers manipulate the robotic arm of the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Quest to study shrimp and other deep sea life forms. They discovered the creatures at a hydrothermal vent 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) below the surface of the Atlantic.
Researchers use underwater equipment to measure a skate (Bathyraja richardsoni) on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

Measuring a Skate on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Credit: Nicola King, Oceanlab, University of Aberdeen/MAR-ECO, Census of Marine Life

How does this skate (Bathyraja richardsoni) measure up? Researchers use underwater equipment to estimate its size. The marks on the meter-long scale bars are 10 cm apart. The yellow ribbons show which way the current is flowing on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

Scientists believe orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) live 150 years or more.

Orange Roughy

Credit: NIWA, New Zealand/CenSeam, Census of Marine Life

Scientists believe orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) live longer than 150 years! Here, Census of Marine Life researchers used an underwater camera to photograph this group of orange roughy swimming over New Zealand’s Graveyard seamount complex.