Dr Craig R McClain
@drcraigmc.bsky.social
Marine Ecologist, Deep-Sea Explorer, Climate Change Researcher, Science Communicator, Ed @deepseanews
Wow. I’m humbled, astonished, and to stand before you today as one of America’s Who’s Who. When I first got the email, I thought it was either a phishing scam or a long-lost relative trying to sell me essential oils. But no, turns out, it was my moment.
November 10, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Wow. I’m humbled, astonished, and to stand before you today as one of America’s Who’s Who. When I first got the email, I thought it was either a phishing scam or a long-lost relative trying to sell me essential oils. But no, turns out, it was my moment.
Psychropotes longicauda, the sea pig’s flamboyant cousin, trails a red sail over the seafloor. A tiny flag of existence waving in the dark.
November 6, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Psychropotes longicauda, the sea pig’s flamboyant cousin, trails a red sail over the seafloor. A tiny flag of existence waving in the dark.
Glass Sponge and shrimp commensalism at 1500m
October 28, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Glass Sponge and shrimp commensalism at 1500m
I don’t think people really understand when I say Giant Isopods can gorge themselves on a meal. Look at how much the stomach of this small male is extended from snacking on raw chicken in my trap.
October 27, 2025 at 11:59 PM
I don’t think people really understand when I say Giant Isopods can gorge themselves on a meal. Look at how much the stomach of this small male is extended from snacking on raw chicken in my trap.
Brittle star swimming! Love this movement.
October 27, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Brittle star swimming! Love this movement.
Cheers from the Global Explorer ROV van!
October 27, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Cheers from the Global Explorer ROV van!
Because they normally look like this and not black
October 22, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Because they normally look like this and not black
Day three of the Deepwater Horizon work was a success. Unfortunately the red crabs still look like this…
October 22, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Day three of the Deepwater Horizon work was a success. Unfortunately the red crabs still look like this…
Day two of our Deepwater Horizon cruise is a success!
October 21, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Day two of our Deepwater Horizon cruise is a success!
This has to be the worst usage of AI image generation. "Illustration of an underwater volcano off Vancouver Island revealing a nursery of giant skate ray eggs." www.sustainability-times.com/research/und...
August 20, 2025 at 2:09 PM
This has to be the worst usage of AI image generation. "Illustration of an underwater volcano off Vancouver Island revealing a nursery of giant skate ray eggs." www.sustainability-times.com/research/und...
#WormWednesday. Imagine the Pompeii worm living at 176°F, toxic water. “Yeah, I live here now.” Meanwhile I complain about WiFi.
August 20, 2025 at 1:29 PM
#WormWednesday. Imagine the Pompeii worm living at 176°F, toxic water. “Yeah, I live here now.” Meanwhile I complain about WiFi.
On #WormWednesday, remember the Osedax “bone-eating” worms: soft bodies, radical jaws, and a hunger for sunken skeletons. They teach us sometimes survival means feasting on the ruins of an empire. Image from @mbarinews.bsky.social
August 20, 2025 at 1:27 PM
On #WormWednesday, remember the Osedax “bone-eating” worms: soft bodies, radical jaws, and a hunger for sunken skeletons. They teach us sometimes survival means feasting on the ruins of an empire. Image from @mbarinews.bsky.social
SNAILS CARRYING ENTIRE HOUSES ON THEIR BACKS!!! VERY INDEPENDENT, VERY STRONG. UNLIKE FREELOADERS, THESE MOLLUSCS EARN THEIR WAY. TRUE PATRIOTS OF THE DEEP. 🐌 #molluscmonday
August 18, 2025 at 2:56 PM
SNAILS CARRYING ENTIRE HOUSES ON THEIR BACKS!!! VERY INDEPENDENT, VERY STRONG. UNLIKE FREELOADERS, THESE MOLLUSCS EARN THEIR WAY. TRUE PATRIOTS OF THE DEEP. 🐌 #molluscmonday
THE GULPER EEL — STRETCHES ITS MOUTH WIDE OPEN. SO MUCH BIGGER THAN YOU’D BELIEVE. EVERYONE SAYS “WOW.” INCREDIBLE ANIMAL.
August 18, 2025 at 2:46 PM
THE GULPER EEL — STRETCHES ITS MOUTH WIDE OPEN. SO MUCH BIGGER THAN YOU’D BELIEVE. EVERYONE SAYS “WOW.” INCREDIBLE ANIMAL.
DEEP SEA CUCUMBERS — PEOPLE LAUGH, THEY SAY THEY’RE SOFT. BUT THEY CLEAN THE OCEAN FLOOR BETTER THAN ANYONE. NOBODY RESPECTS THEM ENOUGH. I DO. TREMENDOUS ANIMALS.
August 18, 2025 at 2:44 PM
DEEP SEA CUCUMBERS — PEOPLE LAUGH, THEY SAY THEY’RE SOFT. BUT THEY CLEAN THE OCEAN FLOOR BETTER THAN ANYONE. NOBODY RESPECTS THEM ENOUGH. I DO. TREMENDOUS ANIMALS.
THE COLOSSAL SQUID IS MASSIVE. MUCH BIGGER THAN PEOPLE THOUGHT. THEY SAID IT WAS A MYTH — WRONG. I’VE SEEN IT. TOTALLY DOMINATES THE OCEAN. OTHER SQUIDS? VERY WEAK. VERY SAD.
August 18, 2025 at 2:42 PM
THE COLOSSAL SQUID IS MASSIVE. MUCH BIGGER THAN PEOPLE THOUGHT. THEY SAID IT WAS A MYTH — WRONG. I’VE SEEN IT. TOTALLY DOMINATES THE OCEAN. OTHER SQUIDS? VERY WEAK. VERY SAD.
Remembering that time I saw Carrot Top. I don’t care what you think it was funny and I like prop comedy.
July 3, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Remembering that time I saw Carrot Top. I don’t care what you think it was funny and I like prop comedy.
Flattered to be recognized in the Nature Daily Briefing.
June 28, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Flattered to be recognized in the Nature Daily Briefing.
Just so you know, sea spiders have multiple leg segments. Eight including two tibias and not counting the claws. #marinelife Illustration from Child in 1998, the father of Pycnogonids!
June 26, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Just so you know, sea spiders have multiple leg segments. Eight including two tibias and not counting the claws. #marinelife Illustration from Child in 1998, the father of Pycnogonids!
Absolutely. Here is the one from my personal shell collection.
June 23, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Absolutely. Here is the one from my personal shell collection.
Yes my campus has a swamp in the middle of it. It has herons, turtles, grackles, and alligators. It’s glorious.
June 20, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Yes my campus has a swamp in the middle of it. It has herons, turtles, grackles, and alligators. It’s glorious.
Hello all you beautiful nerds! Have this sweet photo of a land snail from my hike off the Natchez Trace Parkway a couple of weeks ago. Some estimate there are nearly 40,000 species of land snails globally.
June 12, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Hello all you beautiful nerds! Have this sweet photo of a land snail from my hike off the Natchez Trace Parkway a couple of weeks ago. Some estimate there are nearly 40,000 species of land snails globally.
Losing FEMA—or gutting its funding—would be catastrophic. When the next Ida, Katrina, or something worse hits, every state would be scrambling alone. FEMA isn’t just needed—it’s essential. Let’s protect it.
June 11, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Losing FEMA—or gutting its funding—would be catastrophic. When the next Ida, Katrina, or something worse hits, every state would be scrambling alone. FEMA isn’t just needed—it’s essential. Let’s protect it.