A recent expedition off the coast of Chile has led to the discovery of more than a hundred potential new species in the deep sea, revealing the incredible diversity of life in our oceans.
The team aboard the research vessel Falkor used a robotic underwater vehicle to explore depths exceeding 1,500 meters and livestream their discoveries. The findings included a constellation-like life form, thin-legged red crustaceans and bioluminescent organisms.
One of the standout discoveries was a walking fish resembling a sea frog, known for its sombre expression and bright lure used to attract prey. The sea frog’s unique appearance includes googly eyes, protective stingers, and a crochet-like skin with sensory organs. This sea frog is a new species that highlights the vast unknowns of deep-sea life.
The expedition team also mapped four previously unknown underwater mountains and six others already known to science. These seamounts are home to unique ecosystems and species found nowhere else. This makes them critical areas for conservation. Despite their importance, less than 0.1 percent of seamounts have been explored, and even fewer are protected from harmful human activities such as fishing and mining. While two of the discovered seamounts are located within marine protected areas, there is an urgent need to protect more of these underwater mountains to protect the diverse fauna and habitats they support.
The team notes the need for further exploration and protection of deep-sea ecosystems. The team also emphasizes that the surface has not yet been scratched when it comes to understanding the full extent of life in these environments.
Compiled by: Eliz Canyurt
