Brittle star or sea cucumber: which deep-sea survivor is more fascinating?

The newly explored Indian Ocean seamounts revealed animals adapted to a world with little light and limited food. Filter feeders can use faster currents over seamounts, while brittle stars and sea cucumbers occupy the benthic seafloor. Which body plan seems better suited to life thousands of meters down? Source: Mongabay, August 26, 2026. Original editorial visuals.