Beneath the surface of the Earth鈥檚 oceans lurks a strange and wonderful world filled with unique sea creatures that no one has ever seen before. But thousands of the marine animals have begun to surface recently, thanks to an Olympian effort by a consortium of roughly 2000 scientists from 82 countries. The latest findings of the survey, called the Census of Marine Life, were reported this week at the World Conference on Marine Biodiversity in Valencia, Spain. Since 2,000, when the census began, survey scientists have identified 5,300 possible new species (more than 100 have so far gone through the rigorous process to gain the official designation as 鈥渘ew鈥).
The World Register of Marine Species currently lists more than 120,000 species, with only five percent of the world鈥檚 oceans explored. Scientists participating in the Census of Marine Life hope to more than double that number as they continue to dive into unchartered waters through 2008, when the survey is scheduled for completion. (See article 鈥Getting to Know You鈥 in 础耻诲耻产辞苍鈥檚 current issue.)
Among the most recent findings is what the researchers called a 鈥渂rittle star city,鈥 in which tens of millions of brittle stars (related to sea stars and cucumbers) cover an underwater mountain stretching higher than the world鈥檚 tallest building. Another surprising discovery was a benthic comb jelly found more than 23,000 feet under the sea鈥攖he deepest recorded sighting of the species ever. (And this is no ordinary jelly. The scientists say it flies through the water like a kite on the end of two long 鈥渟trings.鈥) In the deep sea off Antarctica one scientific team found octopuses riding an expressway of cold water. Satellite tagging by another group uncovered a 鈥渨hite shark caf茅鈥 in an area between Hawaii and the Baja peninsula where the animals are hanging out for as long as six months鈥攁 previously unknown behavior. Add to these discoveries behemoth bacteria in the eastern South Pacific, mammoth mollusks in the Gulf of Mexico, colossal sea stars in Antarctica鈥檚 Southern Ocean, enormous oysters hiding in the deep waters off the La Chapelle continental slope, and much more.
The census鈥 main goal of recording new marine species is a means of focusing better fisheries management and helping to protect marine species before they disappear. These photographs illustrate a few of the recent discoveries:
M. Rauschert
Megaleledone setebos is an Antarctic octopus species that is thought to be the closest living relative to the common ancestor of deep-sea octopuses.
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research
Census researchers from New Zealand hold giant Macroptychaster sea stars that can grow up to nearly two feet.
Japan Agency for Marine Earth Science and Technology
A new species of benthic comb jelly discovered near Japan appears to fly like a kite at the end of two long "strings" afixed to the seafloor.