Hasta La Motion!

UPDATE: We’re still working on a species ID with our science partners at the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology, but currently we’re thinking the purple orb is a pleurobranch, a nudibranch relative. Both are types of sea slugs, like this one: http://nautl.us/2arhstb

This unidentified purple orb stumped our scientists onboard. After sampling, it began to unfold to reveal two distinct lobes. It could possibly take years for scientists to definitively determine whether it’s a newly discovered species!

E/V Nautilus is exploring the ocean studying biology, geology, archeology, and more. Watch http://www.nautiluslive.org for live video from the ocean floor. For live dive updates follow along on social media at http://www.facebook.com/nautiluslive and http://www.twitter.com/evnautilus on Twitter. For more photos from our dives, check out our Instagram @nautiluslive.