In an extraordinary discovery beneath the Atlantic Ocean, scientists aboard NOAA’s Okeanos Explorer captured an image that instantly drew comparisons to the beloved cartoon characters SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star. During a dive on Retriever Seamount on July 27, 2021, the team used a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to photograph a bright yellow sponge beside a pink starfish — an uncanny resemblance to the iconic Nickelodeon duo.
The yellow sponge belongs to the genus Hertwigia, a type of glass sponge common to the Atlantic’s deep-sea seamounts, while the pink starfish is believed to be Chondraster grandis.
In nature, Chondraster sea stars are known predators of sponges, meaning that “Patrick” might have been sizing up “SpongeBob” as his next meal.
Scientists were thrilled not only by the pop culture resemblance but also by the opportunity to document biodiversity in such remote environments. These findings help researchers better understand the complex ecosystems that thrive around seamounts, which are critical hotspots for marine life.
NOAA’s ongoing exploration missions continue to reveal the mysteries of the deep, reminding us that even in the darkest parts of the ocean, nature often finds ways to mirror the familiar — sometimes with a surprising twist.
