Skeleton Panda Sea Squirt: The Weird Wonder of the Deep

31st March, 2024 CHIRANJIT MITRA CHIRANJIT MITRA

[{"selector":"#anim-e2d1d3ee-35fe-4f71-81c6-e22e4393e907 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-19.07934641140999%, 24.271844660194176%) scale(1.4854368932038835)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5970f0d9-acd3-4311-9a18-cd313466e610","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a47d3233-1409-41d2-ad65-30caa38e5494","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Meet one of Japan's newest species, the creature with a spooky-cute name and an even odder appearance. Learn more

[{"selector":"#anim-9c610e9f-e0ee-4698-b59c-796cca0a4d93 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(21.834201947990934%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-da8b95d0-e34d-4ef5-b22f-8095122a997e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3e014213-ba07-48c1-9642-31460a2f2095","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] It Looks Like... A miniature skeleton with two panda-like black dots!

[{"selector":"#anim-9a1f5967-eb86-42d5-b46e-8179d261d44e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(16.50305826426749%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0209c282-460f-46a7-87b0-efde832e5901","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-327553ec-d07e-4c4f-8272-8a001a9c18d6","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] But It's Not... This bizarre creature is a sea squirt, a type of filter-feeding marine animal.

[{"selector":"#anim-de6cea1c-645e-4ed4-bc0c-7b9c6ba918c7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-17.72758884653838%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dc351e90-270e-4216-97e4-1dbbd33781b1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bb5bb4d4-b70f-4f78-8b1d-5c41c77ce178","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] The Skeleton Panda was discovered off the coast of Kume Island, Japan.

[{"selector":"#anim-b7bd32c6-ac5c-47b4-8a8c-6aa21d739bb4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-51.455686575597916%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f588329a-c85c-4a1d-acf5-5b5996f08a77","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6d962e1f-587e-42dd-a192-af5c0e6f7dd8","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Its white, horizontal blood vessels create a bone-like appearance.

[{"selector":"#anim-a3c1bbd9-59ee-4d0b-b97f-2c9285e5f5a0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-49.41719840427812%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e5aa2860-c351-4267-85c7-16d3a92dbe53","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-36a7200a-6740-4399-9882-36ee8b911fbb","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Scientists are baffled by the black dots; their function remains a mystery.

[{"selector":"#anim-8e6ce233-cccc-46c2-a591-42c84d46065c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-44.905722143897016%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a3d8416d-7fa7-4f24-9683-8662d70f7143","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a52ac6b7-56cb-4d0a-91ba-329ed31f0e67","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] This little sea squirt measures less than an inch long (about 2cm). Learn more

[{"selector":"#anim-936c0c3f-9bb8-49c8-85d2-0a83f88ba4ad [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-6.446978307129222%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7f11ba35-a9b9-4f79-95ad-e09e2df9cdb6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6319e378-11f2-4ab2-9373-46e6f24a1be1","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Nature never ceases to amaze! The Skeleton Panda Sea Squirt reminds us of the ocean's hidden wonders. Learn more