Scientists Discover Underwater Mountain Range Filled with Possible New Species

Astonishing images have emerged showing researchers have discovered an underwater mountain 1,450 kilometres off the coast of Chile that could be home to up to 20 previously undiscovered species.

ABC News And Astrobiology News The 1.9-mile-tall seamount (one-third the height of Mount Everest) was reportedly discovered during a 28-day expedition to the Nazca Ridge, an underwater mountain range in the southeastern Pacific Ocean overseen by the Schmidt Ocean Institute. The scientists used a remotely operated vehicle from a state-of-the-art research vessel to collect images and samples of marine life on the ridge. Before the discovery, researchers were unsure of the ridge’s exact location and height.

At the Nazca Ridge, they discovered a plethora of potentially new creatures, including sea urchins, anemones, several shrimp, a squat lobster, a sea frog, and two Bathyphysa siphonophores, popularly known as “flying spaghetti monsters” because of their clustered appearance. Fossilized whale bones were also found in the area, which could pave the way for the discovery of a previously unknown species of ancient whale.

The researchers plan to submit photos of each life form to the Ocean Census, which will determine whether they are truly new species. But confirmation could take several years. Scientists also discovered a rare Casper octopus on the ridge, previously only studied from dead specimens.

These discoveries are just the tip of the iceberg, given that only 26 percent of the ocean floor has been explored in such detail, said Jyotika Virmani, director of the Schmidt Institute. Each exploration of a different underwater region “brings a little more focus to the unknown seafloor and life on our planet,” Virmani said.

“Having completed our third expedition to the region, we have discovered around 25 submarine mountains in the Nazca and Salas y Gómez Ridges,” explained Tomas Ketter, a marine technician at the institute. “We hope that the data collected from these expeditions will help inform future policies and preserve these pristine environments for future generations.”

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