Real-life Patrick from Spongebob photographed by ocean researchers along with 57 completely new marine species
The major haul of marine discoveries took place during an expedition of a deep-sea canyon off the coast of Argentina, with footage of the beloved cartoon-esque starfish subsequently "propelling" it to international fame
A starfish bearing a striking resemblance to the popular SpongeBob SquarePants character, Patrick Star, has been captured on camera by ocean researchers. The image, taken during a 20-day expedition off the coast of Argentina, quickly gained global attention. Led by Dr. Daniel Lauretta from a team of Argentine marine scientists, the researchers used a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) named SuBastian, capable of reaching depths over 4,500 meters, to document their findings.
In addition to the Patrick Star-like starfish, the expedition also discovered 57 new marine species, including 20 copepods and 22 echinoderms. One such echinoderm, named "Loki" due to its horned appendages, closely resembled the Norse god. The Mar del Plata Submarine Canyon, the site of the expedition, has now been revealed as a hotspot for deep-sea biodiversity. Researchers plan to return in 2027 to investigate further.
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