Enlarge the map for a good view of the Tasman Fracture around the coasts of Victoria and Tasmania. This fracture is a trench that drops nearly 3 miles below the surface of the Southern Ocean. Up to now, it has only been explored to a depth of 5,900 feet but with the aid of the remotely operated vehicle Jason from the research vessel Thomas G. Thompson, researchers were able to see images down to 13,000 feet. The ship mapped the region, which has not been touched by fishing trawlers, during December 2008 and January 2009.
Jason captured images that showed this l.6 foot tall carnivorous sea squirt which uses its funnel-shaped head to capture prey in the same way that a Venus Fly Trap plant does.
And this newly discovered soft coral called a gorgon's head. (which looks rather like the love child of a witch and an archaeologist)
14 comments:
The gorgons head is an awesome looking thing :) We have some good stuff in Tassie :)
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the Tasman Fracture?
aha, i knew there was something suss about that end of Oz.
I love these critters! Did you see the glass sponge?
Miles McLagen's from Tasmania will comment here any minute - he always fractures me.
I took a fall from a great height once and broke my coccyx - that was a Tasman Fracture too.
and all those creepy things living in the sea is the reason why so many people build swimming pools at home.
Warning to seachangers looking at spending real estate money in Paynesville: CHECK out all the bloody jellyfish before you sign.
...and then move north instead.
Davo, I thought you'd be winging your way to Lake Eyre for the flooding?
Laredhel, I know why I missed that post at Hoyden, dial-up was very bad in January. I don't know why everyone wants to go back to the moon when they have no idea what's under our oceans.
FG, They're playing down the degradation of the lakes system for just that reason. I've got relo's that shelled out a million for a huge house in Paynesville.
Phil, you're obviously not in the middle of the rain belt.
Myst, who would have thought Tassie would have its own coral reef and it has a meteor impact crater in the southwest. And it has food, glorious food.
My sister owns half the houses in Paynesville, Bairnsdale as well, all furnished from the local tip.
Cop my new profile.
"I don't know why everyone wants to go back to the moon when they have no idea what's under our oceans."
I kinda love the idea that there are all these worlds mostly hidden from us but right under our noses. Do you remember when the Wollemi pine was discovered?
Lauredhel, I do and my cousin bought a seedling and it is growing beautifully in the Dandenong Ranges.
Good one Robbert, and just look at all those profile views, fans or bloggers you've pissed off?
It's exactly 4 fans, and 3,037 bloggers I've pissed off. Wooh!- what a shocker!
Yes well you can't please everyone of course.
But I'm working hard at it.
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