Scientists Discover Over A Thousand New Ocean Species In Landmark Deep Sea Exploration
- Researchers working through the Ocean Census identified 1,121 previously unknown marine species this year, utilizing 13 expeditions and 9 discovery workshops to accelerate what has traditionally been a slow taxonomic process.
- Although oceans cover over 70% of the planet, only about 240,000 marine species are formally documented while scientists estimate two million exist; the Ocean Census launched three years ago to close this knowledge gap.
- Deep-Sea "chimaeras," formally known as ghost sharks, glided through waters more than 2,624 feet deep in the Coral Sea Marine Park, while scientists shared findings via NOVA, an open-access platform enabling worldwide researcher access.
- Traditionally, 13.5 years pass between discovery and formal description, leaving species vulnerable in policy frameworks; the Ocean Census approach compresses this to weeks, providing what researchers call a "passport" for new species essential for conservation.
- Scientists estimate up to 90 percent of marine species remain undiscovered, raising questions about protecting ecosystems from climate change and deep-sea mining while most life remains unknown and unnamed.
17 Articles
17 Articles
From ‘ghost sharks’ to ‘death ball’ sponges: Scientists find more than 1,100 wild and unusual ocean species
By Laura Paddison, CNN (CNN) — Deep in the ocean is a worm that makes its home inside a “glass castle,” a mysterious “ghost shark” and a carnivorous “death ball” sponge. These are just three of the 1,121 “previously unknown” species discovered in the world’s oceans over the last year, announced Tuesday by the Ocean Census, a global effort to map marine life involving more than 1,000 researchers across 85 countries. It marks a 54% increase in ann…
Photos reveal strange sea creatures that scientists have never seen before
A species of chimaera — aka a ghost shark — is among the 1,121 species scientists say they recently discovered as part of a marine exploration mission called Ocean Census. | The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census/CSIRO It lives in a glass castle deep under the sea. It’s not a character from The Little Mermaid but a very real, very mysterious marine worm. Known as Dalhousiella yabukii, the worm resides inside a glass sea sponge — a simple m…
The Toronto Star
Scientists discover over 1,100 new marine species in landmark Ocean Census
Scientists have found 1,121 previously unknown species, fast-tracking discovery and marking a 54% jump in annual identification.Discoveries from depths of up to 6,575m include a new species of deep-sea ghost shark, a symbiotic bristle worm living within a ‘glass castle’,…
Scientists discover 14 strange new species hidden in the deep sea
Scientists are revolutionizing how new marine species are described through the Ocean Species Discoveries initiative. Using advanced lab techniques, researchers recently unveiled 14 new species from ocean depths exceeding 6,000 meters. Their findings include a record-setting mollusk, a carnivorous bivalve, and a popcorn-like parasitic isopod. The project aims to make taxonomy faster, more accessible, and globally collaborative.
The Ocean Census, an international project to search for new marine life, announced on the 19th that it had discovered a total of 1,121 previously unknown species in the year leading up to March. These were confirmed through marine surveys conducted in Japan and Australia. By collecting scientific data, the project aims to uncover marine ecosystems.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources lean Left, 43% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
