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Kōrero: Deep-sea creatures

The ocean floor

Image
The ocean floor

This sea-floor sediment was photographed at 600 metres in a submarine canyon off south-eastern New Zealand. Covering approximately one square metre, it shows signs of animal activity, such as mounds and tracks. Some white, stalked sponges (Stylocordyla borealis) can also be seen. The source of food for life on the sea bed is the sprinkling rain of dead and decaying matter from the upper levels.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

exploretheabyss.com

by Peter Batson

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Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Paddy Ryan, Deep-sea creatures – Sea-floor life, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/5277/the-ocean-floor (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Paddy Ryan, i tāngia i te 2 March 2009.