It’s thought millions of species are still to be found in Earth’s oceans, which cover a 70 per cent of the planet.
Now, scientists have announced that they’ve discovered another 100, following an expedition at Bounty Trough, off the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island.
From a research ship, the team dropped mesh nets down to more than 15,000 feet to capture creatures lurking in the dark depths.
The new species identified there include dozens of molluscs, three fish, a shrimp, a cephalopod and a new genera of coral.
There’s also one find – which looks like a shriveled grey cauliflower – that is ‘baffling’ the marine biologists.
New species identified so far include dozens of molluscs, three fish, a shrimp, a cephalopod and a new genera of coral – but one find (pictured) is baffling experts
The new species were revealed by New Zealand‘s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA).
Voyage co-leader and NIWA marine biologist, Sadie Mills, said the expedition has shown the Bounty Trough is flourishing with life.
‘We’ve gone to lots of different habitats and discovered a whole range of new species, from fish to snails, to corals and sea cucumbers – really interesting species that are going to be new to science,’ she said.
The find that’s baffling the experts is likely a new type of octocoral – a deep sea organism notable for having polyps with eight tentacles.
The voyage team initially thought it might be a seastar, a sea-anemone, or another deep sea animal called a zoanthid, but it has so far proven to be none of those.
‘We’ve got a lot of experts here having a look who are very excited,’ said Dr Michela Mitchell, a taxonomist at Queensland Museum.
‘We now think it could be a new species of octocoral, but also a new genus.
‘Even more excitingly, it could be a whole new group outside of the octocoral.
The find that’s baffling the experts is likely a new type of octocoral – a deep sea organism notable for having polyps with eight tentacles
Pictured, a possible new species of shrimp found. The expedition has shown the Bounty Trough is flourishing with life, despite its dark depths
A deep-sea squid. A global team of scientists is working to confirm the finds at taxonomic workshops in Wellington, New Zealand
Marine scientists collected almost 1,800 samples from as deep as 15,748 feet (4,800 metres) underwater along Bounty Trough
Marine biologists sorting through the discoveries aboard the research vessel off the New Zealand coast
‘If it is, that is a significant find for the deep sea and gives us a much clearer picture of the planet’s unique biodiversity.’
Another creature may be a new species of carnivorous chiton – a kind of mollusc identifiable by their characteristic armored shells.
There’s also what’s thought to be an eelpout – the bizarre ray-finned fish that have the appearance of an eel.
British marine biologist Professor Alex Rogers, who co-led the expedition, said he’s been impressed with the sheer biodiversity of life they’ve discovered.
‘It looks like we have a great haul of new, undiscovered species,’ he said.
‘By the time all our specimens are examined, we will be north of 100 new species.
‘But what’s really surprised me here is the fact this extends to animals like fish – we think we’ve got three new species of fish.’
The three-week voyage on NIWA’s research vessel Tangaroa collected almost 1,800 samples from as deep as 15,748 feet (4,800 metres) underwater along Bounty Trough.
Over the next three weeks the team of scientists – which includes experts from the UK and Australia – will be sorting and describing the specimens collected.
Pictured, what’s thought to be an eelpout – the bizarre ray-finned fish that have the appearance of an eel
The team of scientists from NIWA and Te Papa in New Zealand collaborated with experts from the UK and Australia to collect almost 1,800 samples
This creature may be a new species of carnivorous chiton – a kind of mollusc identifiable by their characteristic armored shells
New species of corals (pictured) are among the finds. Experts have been amazed by the sheer biodiversity of life they’ve discovered
The three-week voyage on NIWA’s research vessel Tangaroa collected almost 1,800 samples from as deep as 15,748 feet (4,800 metres) underwater along Bounty Trough
Specimens are to be housed in the NIWA Invertebrate Collection and National Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, both in Wellington.
According to Andrew Stewart, curator of fishes at Te Papa, there’s likely many more species ‘still waiting to be discovered’ on future expeditions.
‘While our findings are significant, we know that we’ve barely scratched the surface of the Bounty Trough,’ he said.
Knowledge gained from the expedition will be included in future editions of the New Zealand Marine Biota NIWA Biodiversity Memoir.
