Sometimes the best home is . . . another animal!

Being tiny in the deep Ocean requires careful consideration for survival. Corals and taller animals extend up into the water column where the food is, so they make great lodging. A tiny crustacean that makes a home in the upper branches of a coral will have access to a steady stream of nutritious marine snow. Most deep-sea corals have stinging cells called nematocysts that may provide added protection against harm. In exchange, some of these animals help keep their coral, sponge, or crinoid homes clean. During the #SamplingGap expedition, an international science team is conducting the first visual observations of the Romanche Fracture Zone — a 950-km transform fault zone along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The area serves as a vital corridor between the eastern and western Atlantic basins, allowing deep-water currents to move between them. While individual countries control exclusive economic zones up to 200 nautical miles from their coasts, places like this lie beyond any single country's jurisdiction. They are considered part of the common heritage of humankind. The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction treaty (ratified on 17 January 2026) sets guidelines for marine protected areas, environmental assessments, and technology sharing in international waters like these. The scientists’ work will expand biological understanding and inform future conservation efforts. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute