‘Headless Chicken Monster' Captivates Ocean Scientists With Graceful Dance
The headless chicken monster is a type of sea cucumber.
Many animals have acquired silly nicknames from amused humans. Raccoons are trash pandas. Snakes are danger noodles. Ocean dwellers aren't immune to this trend. Stingrays are sea flap flaps. But few nicknames reach the height of the headless chicken monster. One of these special animals was recently captured on camera by ocean explorers.
The crew of the Exploration Vessel Nautilus spotted a headless chicken monster while surveying the Vogt Seamount east of the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean. Seamounts are underwater mountains. The vessel deploys remotely operated vehicles to study the deep sea. One of the ship's ROVs snapped the mesmerizing footage of the chicken monster.
The monster has no relation to actual poultry. It's a type of sea cucumber in the Enypniastes genus. Sea cucumbers are soft-bodied invertebrate creatures that typically scavenge for their snacks. Many of them have long, bumpy bodies that resemble the cucumbers we eat in salads.
Headless chicken monsters 'are unique in that they've evolved webbed swimming fin-like structures at the front and back of their bodies,' the Nautilus team wrote. 'These semi-transparent deep-sea invertebrates are also known to shed parts of their skin to generate a glowing cloud.'
The scientists providing live commentary brought some context to the sighting. The sea cucumbers are also known as Spanish dancers because they have 'nice skirts.' This feature is evident as the animal gracefully flaps through the water.
The translucent animal has its guts on display. The dark hole at the top is the sea cucumber's mouth. That's where the 'headless' part of its nickname comes from. The rounded and tapered body resembles a plucked chicken.
This transparent sea creature is a cucumber relative.
The chicken monster isn't the only unusual sea creature in the E/V Nautilus video. 'While exploring the depths, the team also spotted a more transparent swimming cucumber relative from the Elpidiidae family with nearly translucent body cavity with orange digestive track shining from within,' the Nautilus organization said.
If you thought the chicken monster was odd, wait until you hear what this transparent swimming cucumber can do. This animal is known for evading predators by shedding weight and shooting upward. It drops the weight quickly by 'doing a big poo.' The researchers also described this process as 'ballast release.'
The Nautilus is exploring the Mariana Islands on an expedition funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It's an area littered with submarine volcanoes.
Public outreach is a key part of the Nautilus mission. The ship sends out live video feeds of its science adventures. The translucent headless chicken monster is a highlight from one of these feeds. Previous expeditions have turned up unusual sights like a 'yellow brick road' on the ocean floor and an actual nautilus—a marine mollusk known for its artfully curved shell.
The headless chicken monster is worthy of note, not just for its funny nickname, but for its jewel-like beauty and grace as a swimmer. Sea cucumbers are fascinating critters. But what do you call a group of them? According to the Natural History Museum in the United Kingdom, 'Due to their fruit-like appearance, a group of sea cucumbers is known as a pickle.'
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