Overview
- NOAA and the Smithsonian said Wednesday the 2023 “golden orb” found at about 3,250 meters in the Gulf of Alaska is dead base tissue from the giant anemone Relicanthus daphneae.
- Whole-genome and mitochondrial sequencing, after routine barcoding failed because microbes contaminated the sample, matched the DNA to a Relicanthus daphneae reference genome, and the team released a bioRxiv preprint.
- Microscopy showed the surface packed with spirocysts, stinging cells found only in Hexacorallia, which reinforced the genetic identification.
- A look at a similar specimen collected in 2021 on Schmidt Ocean Institute’s Falkor revealed the same cell features, adding comparative support.
- Scientists still do not know what happened to the anemone’s upper body and say it may have died or moved, a reminder of the deep ocean’s many open questions and the value of continued exploration.