Alien Invasion?

Yesterday was a Plankton day and I was out with the net on a trail line to collect more samples forThe Sir Alister Harding Foundation for Ocean Science. As you will recall we are collecting a series of samples as we cross the Atlantic, at each location we take four “scoops” in a 24 hour day which are transferred to storage jars and preserved in Formalin. We do find it interesting as each time we seem to find something new, at least to our eyes. It never ceases to amaze us how much microscopic life there is in the sea. We really must take care of such a precious and vital ecosystem.
Yesterday was no different in the variety we saw, as I pulled in the net to find a “huge” visitor amongst the sample of tiny life that fuels our planet. He (or she) looked like something from the movie Alien and we were glad that in practice the creature was only a centimeter long (3/8 inch).
We suspect we know what our visitor is but are open to suggestions and comments!
We have continued west and the winds for the next few days are set fair for our chosen destination. The sun is shining and the seas are gentle so life is very pleasant. As you start your working week spare us a bit of sympathy as we reach for another book!
David and the crew.

Edited later….
The power of the internet is alive and well in the hands of a ballooning friend who, moments after reading the blog, STUMBLED UPON the identity of the creature!