On August 30, 2023, a remotely operated vehicle deployed from the NOAA ship Okeanos Explorer collected a softball-sized golden object from the seafloor southwest of Walker Seamount in the Gulf of Alaska, approximately 3,300 meters below the surface.
The object, found among glass sponges and initially mistaken for an egg or unknown organism, sparked immediate scientific curiosity due to its smooth metallic sheen and torn opening. Researchers noted the absence of typical animal anatomy such as a mouth, gut, or muscle tissue, instead observing a fibrous structure covered in a layered surface.
Microscopic analysis revealed specialized stinging cells unique to the cnidarian group Hexacorallia, which includes sea anemones and corals. These cells, identified as spirocysts, matched those found in a similar specimen collected in 2021 by the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s vessel Falkor.
Genetic sequencing ultimately linked both specimens to the rare deep-sea anemone species *Relicanthus daphneae*, confirming the golden object was not a living organism but a remnant of its basal attachment structure.
The specimen, now cataloged as USNM_IZ_1699903 in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History’s Invertebrate Zoology Collection, represents a novel microhabitat where the shed cuticle of *Relicanthus daphneae* supports a microbial community living on and beneath its surface.
According to researchers, the remnant likely formed when the anemone detached from its substrate, leaving behind its basal disc — a structure normally obscured by the organism’s column and tentacles, which can extend up to 2.1 meters in length.
Allen Collins, director of NOAA Fisheries’ National Systematics Laboratory, noted that while routine identification processes were expected, the object’s unusual appearance demanded a multidisciplinary approach involving morphology, genetics, and bioinformatics.
NOAA Ocean Exploration’s acting director William Mowitt emphasized that such discoveries underscore the value of advanced sequencing techniques in resolving deep-sea mysteries, particularly when visual cues like color and shape prompt further investigation.
The fate of the upper portion of the anemone remains unknown, with scientists speculating it may have died, detached, or relocated — though no evidence confirms any of these outcomes.
What made the golden object stand out to researchers initially?
Its unusual gold color, metallic sheen, and egg-like appearance prompted scientists to prioritize investigation, as such visual traits are rare in deep-sea biological samples and often signal uniqueness worth studying.
Why is the discovery of this remnant significant for marine biology?
It reveals a previously undocumented ecological niche where discarded structural material from a deep-sea anemone can sustain microbial life, expanding understanding of how organic debris functions in deep-sea ecosystems.
