Mesmerized by maritime marvels

Mesmerized by maritime marvels



Marine biologist Greg Rouse (pictured with colleagues Nerida Wilson and Kaycee Handley) spotted a creature that ‘nobody could have imagined’ one day during an expedition through the Ningaloo Canyons off the northwest coast of Australia, aboard the research ship RV Falkor. A massive siphonophore, a colonial organism related to corals, sea anemones and jellyfish, was discovered by the Falkor’s remote submersible. Well over 100 metres in length, the creature is much longer than any animal previously recorded. “The Falkor is an amazing ship with an amazing crew,” Rouse says. “It offers a wonderful combination of science and outreach. I felt privileged to be on board.” (Nature | 3 min read)