Pic o’ the Week: Gummy Squirrel in the Pacific Ocean

It’s a slug, it’s an alien … it’s a Gummy Squirrel!

Yes — it’s a sea creature!

This sea cucumber, aka gummy squirrel {Psychropotes longicauda}, was spotted by the NOAA Okeanos research vessel crew at 5,100 meters (3.2 miles) depth while exploring abyssal sediments in the western Clarion-Clipperton Zone of the central Pacific Ocean.

This gummy squirrel measured a whopping 60 centimeters (2 feet) long, including the tail!

See and read more about the 2018 DeepCCZ expedition here.

Gummy squirrel (“Psychropotes longicauda”) at 5100 m depth on abyssal sediments in the western CCZ. This animal is ~60 cm long (including tail), with red feeding palps (or “lips”) visibly extended from its anterior end (right).

Bonus shot! Below is a close-up snap of the under side of a gummy squirrel photographed on board the ship, showing its bright red feeding palps (flower-like structures) and underbelly.

Photos by NOAA Okeanos / Ocean Exploration