Explore the wonders of the ocean in a gif-ferent way, as we tumble through the beauty and science of the sea. Our mission is to inspire conservation of the ocean.
A smattering of spooky strawberry anemones sit in splendor on the seafloor, speckled tentacles stretched skyward to snatch scrumptious snacks suspended in the surge.
Corynactis californica, often called the strawberry anemone or club-tipped anemone, isn’t an anemone at all! It’s actually more closely related to stony corals. The luminous pink-orange glow is a result of biofluorescence—proteins in its cells absorb energy from ultraviolet light and reemit it as a different color. This is what it looks like without the aid of a blacklight ⬇️
🍓 Let me take you down ‘Cause we’re showing you strawberry feels These things are real And something to fall in love about Strawberry Anemones forever 🍓
Clones! These tiny strawberry anemones (Corynactis californica) literally divide and conquer the rocky reefs they inhabit—they split in half, or bud off pieces of their tissues to reproduce.
Next up in our spooky cephalopod series: the cock-eyed squid! True to its name, this squid has two differently-sized eyes–which probably helps it see different types of light in the deep sea.
Monterey, CA — In a hair-raising breakthrough, scientists at the Monterey Bay Aquarium have successfully hatched the previously extinct wooly sunfish, or Woola woola.
“We’re so excited to finally let our hair down about this research,” said Harriett Topay, the lead scientist on the project. “After numerous breakthroughs in raising comb jellies, we knew we were groomed for success with the wooly sunfish.”
“The science was patchy to say the least,” said Will Koife, one of the aquarists on the project. “But after brushing up on the few trimmings of data we could find, everything sorta gelled.”
Woola woola, the only known member of its genus, once swam in the frigid waters of an ancient ocean far chillier than it is today. Subsisting on a diet of mullet and ctenophores, its shaggy, rugged pelt provided extra insulation on deeper dives.
According to a thin fossil record, the wooly sunfish went extinct sometime after the last Ice Age. But a recent discovery of some permafrosted tips of Woola fur with viable DNA gave the wooly sunfish a chance at recovery.
“It was a close shave for the Woola, for sure, but we’ll see if they can make the cut this time,” said Will.
The resurrection of the Woola has caused a few vocal critics to curl. “This research is really fringe, and not in a good way,” said Dr. E.N. Malcomb, a notable de-extinction buzzkill. “I don’t want to split hairs on ethics, but with the Woola, there’s been a lotta coulda, and not a lotta shoulda.”
Dr. Malcomb continued: “But then again, the return of the wooly sunfish could just be a bald-faced lie—and based on today’s date, I think that’s a safe bet.”
Hey thanks everyone for playing along yesterday. Yes, this is an April Fool’s joke, the Woola woola isn’t real—but the Mola mola is! See if you can spot these hairless wonders on our Open Sea Live Cam!
4/1/19, Monterey, CA — In a hair-raising breakthrough, scientists at the Monterey Bay Aquarium have successfully hatched the previously extinct wooly sunfish, or Woola woola.
“We’re so excited to finally let our hair down about this research,” said Harriett Topay, the lead scientist on the project. “After numerous breakthroughs in raising comb jellies, we knew we were groomed for success with the wooly sunfish.”
“The science was patchy to say the least,” said Will Koife, one of the aquarists on the project. “But after brushing up on the few trimmings of data we could find, everything sorta gelled.”
Woola woola, the only known member of its genus, once swam in the frigid waters of an ancient ocean far chillier than it is today. Subsisting on a diet of mullet and ctenophores, its shaggy, rugged pelt provided extra insulation on deeper dives.
According to a thin fossil record, the wooly sunfish went extinct sometime after the last Ice Age. But a recent discovery of some permafrosted tips of Woola fur with viable DNA gave the wooly sunfish a chance at recovery.
“It was a close shave for the Woola, for sure, but we’ll see if they can make the cut this time,” said Will.
The resurrection of the Woola has caused a few vocal critics to curl. “This research is really fringe, and not in a good way,” said Dr. E.N. Malcomb, a notable de-extinction buzzkill. “I don’t want to split hairs on ethics, but with the Woola, there’s been a lotta coulda, and not a lotta shoulda.”
Dr. Malcomb continued: “But then again, the return of the wooly sunfish could just be a bald-faced lie—and based on today’s date, I think that’s a safe bet.”
Looking for aliens? Thanks to our partners at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), you can now find them in our Jellies Experience exhibition! As you can see, the large Aegina jelly in the center looks different than the others–and may be an undescribed species!
Typically, Aegina found in Monterey Bay are lemon jellies (Aegina citrea), recognizable by their yellowish color and four tentacles. While this jelly’s reddish-purple hue may come from a brightly-colored meal, the six tentacles make it an unusual find! Genetic studies at MBARI suggest this is a distinct species–and research continues.
Like many jellies, these animals can be fragile and short-lived, so we encourage you to visit soon and check them out!
It’s a cephalopod invisibility cloak! Shooting out a cloud of ink, this deep-sea squid can make a quick exit or hide in plain sight. Our partners at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute are currently in the Gulf of California, venturing into parts of the ocean that have never been explored by humans.
Intrigued by the cold, dark depths of the deep-sea? Learn more in our Mysteries of the Deep program, featuring discoveries by our research partners at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). Showing in the Auditorium every day at 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
How do you display deep-sea cephalopods like this vampire squid? It takes a big ship, a lot of scientists, and a robot. Learn how we do it, with the help of our colleagues at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, in our latest podcast.
![A smattering of spooky strawberry anemones sit in splendor on the seafloor, speckled tentacles stretched skyward to snatch scrumptious snacks suspended in the surge.
[[MORE]]Corynactis californica, often called the strawberry anemone or club-tipped...](https://64.media.tumblr.com/5cc8de6218bb1e5d4623ac937068ed57/tumblr_phdxfzbBly1qm9k25o1_1280.jpg)
