A deep-sea expedition off the coast of Argentina has captured stunning footage of more than 40 never-before-seen species.
One unexpected star of the show is a plump sea creature that has been dubbed the “big-butt starfish” for its uncanny resemblance to Patrick Star from “SpongeBob SquarePants.”
During the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) SuBastian‘s dives in Argentina’s Mar del Plata submarine canyon, which have been running since July 23, scientists aboard its accompanying research vessel provide a high-definition livestream, with real-time commentary on rarely seen deep-sea life. The dives have revealed carnivorous sponges, translucent fish, vividly colored rays and corals that have never been documented in the South Atlantic, a biodiversity hotspot that remains largely unexplored.
The sea star, which has become a viral hit on social media, belongs to the genus Hippasteria, which is known for its thick central disc and short, stubby arms. During the livestream, viewers interacting via chat affectionately nicknamed it “estrella culona” — Spanish for “big-butt star.”
Argentine scientists involved with the expedition have offered a few hypotheses for the creature’s attention-grabbing anatomy. The starfish may simply be well fed; they are voracious carnivores. Or, its rounded appearance could be the result of gravity, as it was filmed on a vertical surface with its central disc hanging downward, creating the illusion of glutes.
Starfish don’t have rear ends like humans or other bilaterally symmetrical animals do. Instead, they exhibit radial symmetry, with a mouth located on the underside of the central disc. That lower, or “oral,” surface lies pressed against the seafloor, where feeding occurs. The anus is located in the center of the upper, or “aboral,” surface, which is what a diver would see first when approaching the animal.
“Although starfish do have a complete digestive system and an anus, it’s not in the location people are pointing to on social media,” Mariela Romanelli, a biologist and curator of the invertebrate collection at Argentina’s National Museum of Natural Sciences, told local news site Infobae in Spanish. “Still, the resemblance to Patrick Star’s butt is pretty hilarious.”
The big-butt starfish isn’t the only creature from the expedition, led by scientists from the National Scientific and Technical Research Council and the Schmidt Ocean Institute, that has charmed the public. Another deep-sea creature captured on camera was a violet sea cucumber, belonging to the genus Benthodytes, whose plump body and purple hue earned it its name “Batatita”” (“Little Sweet Potato”). The specimen was collected by the ROV and is alive and well at the surface, expedition scientists said.
So far, the expedition has documented at least 25 species of fish, both bony and cartilaginous; carnivorous sponges that have never been recorded in the South Atlantic; and crustaceans and other invertebrates that are specially adapted to the pitch-black depths.
The livestream, broadcast for the first time from nearly 13,100 feet (4,000 meters) below sea level, continues through Aug. 10 and can be viewed on the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s official YouTube channel.