Solution 1:
This is the trail of the spiky Deimatidae holothurians… in the area of DISCOL we have seen two morphotypes – long holothurians with quite short spikes, as shown here, and other holothurians shorter in length but with much longer spikes. The spikes are fleshy, rather than hard, and leave distinct pockmarks in the sediment alongside the main trail left by the body of the animal. IMAGE: OFOS AWI
Solution 2:
This is the brightest (and only) green holothurian type we have observed in the DISCOL area. Assumed to be a psychopotidae holothurian, it has two rows of spikes on its back , but it is the fringe around the body which produces the ripple pattern in its trail. IMAGE: OFOS AWI
Solution 3:
Paelopatides holothurian producing a distinct, tidy, twirled feces. IMAGE: OFOS AWI
Solution 4:
This unusual pattern left on the seafloor has been the subject of much debate on this cruise. Is perhaps this sea anemone the producer ? It is our ‘No 1 suspect’ at present… IMAGE: OFOS AWI
Solution 5:
This unidentified sea urchin species leaves a trail like a bulldozer, forcing its way through the sediment and piling it messily on either side as it moves. IMAGE: OFOS AWI
Solution 6:
This sea urchin makes a much more elegant and smooth trail with passage than that in the previous picture, lightly skimming the sediment surface. IMAGE: OFOS AWI
Solution 7:
Another bulldozer. This species has been spotted several times, cutting through the top 1 cm of sediment and with its large spines exposed. IMAGE: OFOS AWI
Solution 8:
Possibly this long spined Plesiodiadema urchin is responsible for this unusual trace… perhaps feeding on sediment then rolling to feed again on the sediment? We have spotted this anemone several times with the trace, but have not actually seen it moving…yet. IMAGE: OFOS AWI