There's nothing like a pair of ridiculously oversized antennae to give a wimpy little crustacean an air of self-importance (all that's missing is a top hat).
Wispy appendages treading water, this bizarre-looking shrimp was filmed recently by ROV cameras on board the NOAA's Okeanos Explorer.
Earlier this month, the Okeanos crew wrapped up its three-stage expedition into the uncharted depths around the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument. Along the way, they've shared some amazing images and video of the area's deep-dwelling inhabitants – some of them filmed for the very first time (cue "Falkor" fish and "Microsoft Paint" jelly).
In the darkness of the Marianas Trench, the shrimp's impressively long antennae – which resemble two dangling chopsticks – likely perform an important sensory function. "Long antennae like this are not uncommon in the deep sea, as they help to increase the area around which an animal can sense, which is important in the deep sea where there is little to no light," the NOAA team explains.
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Top header image: Screengrab/NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research
Deep Ocean
Deep Ocean
Invertebrates
