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Our oceans are vast and discovering new and lost species are among some of the most exciting discoveries in the big blue. An international team of scientists may have found more than 100 new species, during a mission to explore seamounts off the coast of Chile. These creatures who look like they come from a sci-fi novel call the 1,800-mile-long Salas y Gómez Ridge home. 

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A bathymetric map of Solito Seamount off the coast of Chile, created by multibeam sonar data from Research Vessel Falkor (too). In this map, the warmer colors (red and orange) correspond to shallower areas, while the cooler colors (yellow, green, and blues) indicate deeper areas. The scientists on the expedition found that each seamount hosted distinct ecosystems, including thriving deep-sea coral reefs and sponge gardens, indicating the seamounts support numerous vulnerable marine habitats. CREDIT: Schmidt Ocean Institute
A bathymetric map of Solito Seamount off the coast of Chile, created by multibeam sonar data from Research Vessel Falkor (too). In this map, the warmer colors (red and orange) correspond to shallower areas, while the cooler colors (yellow, green, and blues) indicate deeper areas. The scientists on the expedition found that each seamount hosted distinct ecosystems, including thriving deep-sea coral reefs and sponge gardens, indicating the seamounts support numerous vulnerable marine habitats. CREDIT: Schmidt Ocean Institute

Seamounts are large underwater mountains that are often formed by volcanic activity and can be found in every ocean basin on Earth. They are a critical habitat for everything from corals and mollusks, up to crustaceans, fish and marine mammals. This newly explored underwater mountain chain comprises more than 200 seamounts and stretches from offshore Chile to Rapa Nui (Easter Island). 

A squat lobster documented in coral at a depth of 2,194 feet on Seamount JF2. CREDIT: ROV SuBastian/Schmidt Ocean Institute
A squat lobster documented in coral at a depth of 2,194 feet on Seamount JF2. CREDIT: ROV SuBastian/Schmidt Ocean Institute.
A rarely-seen whiplash squid documented at 3,625 feet deep after inking at Seamount 17 (Ikhtiandr) in the Nazca Ridge. CREDIT: ROV SuBastian/Schmidt Ocean Institute
A rarely-seen whiplash squid documented at 3,625 feet deep after inking at Seamount 17 (Ikhtiandr) in the Nazca Ridge. CREDIT: ROV SuBastian/Schmidt Ocean Institute
Detail of a sponge documented at 4,063 feet deep at Seamout 10, also known as Guyot Baral. CREDIT: ROV SuBastian/Schmidt Ocean Institute
Detail of a sponge documented at 4,063 feet deep at Seamout 10, also known as Guyot Baral. CREDIT: ROV SuBastian/Schmidt Ocean Institute.

Over the course of the expedition, the team mapped an area of more than 20,000 square miles of seafloor and discovered four new seamounts within Chile’s waters. They also explored two of Chile’s marine protected areas–the Juan Fernandez and Nazca-Desventuradas marine parks.

[Related: New jellyfish discovered near Japan may contain multitudes of venom.]

Researchers deployed an underwater robot named ROV SuBastian to collect data from the seamounts. ROV SuBastian can safely dive more than 14,000 feet under the Pacific and the data it collected will be used to advance protection of these underwater habitats. The scientists found that each seamount hosted distinct ecosystems. Many of these ecosystems are vulnerable, including sponge gardens and deep-sea coral reefs. 

Oblong Dermechinus urchins documented at a depth of 1,692 feet on Seamount JF2. CREDIT: ROV SuBastian/Schmidt Ocean Institute
Oblong Dermechinus urchins documented at a depth of 1,692 feet on Seamount JF2. CREDIT: ROV SuBastian/Schmidt Ocean Institute
During the first dive to an unnamed and unexplored seamount, Javier Sellanes (Chief Scientist, Universidad Católica del Norte) is left stunned at the incredible biodiversity seen here. CREDIT: Alex Ingle/ Schmidt Ocean Institute
During the first dive to an unnamed and unexplored seamount, Javier Sellanes (Chief Scientist, Universidad Católica del Norte) is left stunned at the incredible biodiversity seen here.  CREDIT: Alex Ingle/ Schmidt Ocean Institute

Back on dry land, the team will spend the next several years analyzing the genetics and physiology of the specimens that they believe are new to science to confirm if they actually are new species.

An urchin retrieved as a sample by ROV SuBastian is handled by a researcher before being taken to the laboratory on Research Vessel Falkor (too) for cataloging and analysis. CREDIT: Alex Ingle/Schmidt Ocean Institute
An urchin retrieved as a sample by ROV SuBastian is handled by a researcher before being taken to the laboratory on Research Vessel Falkor (too) for cataloging and analysis. CREDIT: Alex Ingle/Schmidt Ocean Institute
Laura Baisas
Laura Baisas

Laura is a science news writer, covering a wide variety of subjects, but she is particularly fascinated by all things aquatic, paleontology, nanotechnology, and exploring how science influences daily life. Laura is a proud former resident of the New Jersey shore, a competitive swimmer, and a fierce defender of the Oxford comma.

Animals
Biology
Conservation
Fish
Ocean
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