Advanced Level
An ocean expedition exploring more than a mile under the surface of the Atlantic captured a startlingly silly sight this week: a sponge that looked very much like SpongeBob SquarePants.
And right next to it, a pink sea star — a doppelganger for Patrick, SpongeBob's dim-witted best friend.
Christopher Mah immediately noticed the underwater creatures' resemblance to the animated buddies. "They're just a dead ringer for the cartoon characters," Mah tells NPR.
Rather than chilling together under the sea, Mah suspects a different reason for the creatures' closeness: Sea stars like to feed on sponges.
"In all likelihood, the reason that starfish is right next to that sponge is because that sponge is just about to be devoured, at least in part," he says.
Elementary Level
A Research Vessel Found SpongeBob Look-Alikes A Mile Under The Ocean's Surface
An ocean journey searching more than a mile under the surface of the Atlantic made a rather silly discovery: a sponge that looked very much like SpongeBob SquarePants.
And right next to it, a pink sea star which is similar to Patrick, SpongeBob's dumbbest friend.
Christopher Mah immediately noticed the underwater creatures' similarities to the friends in the cartoon and he told NPR that they look exactly like these cartoon characters.
Rather than having fun together under the sea, Mah guesses that there is another reason for the creatures' closeness: Sea stars like to eat sponges.
"Probably the reason that starfish is right next to that sponge is because that sponge is just about to be eaten, at least in part," he says.
