About 20 new species may have been found on an underwater mountain range off the coast of South America. For the first time, researchers have also managed to capture a live Promachoteuthis squid (see video above), the Schmidt Ocean Institute announced.
In addition, an underwater mountain, the Nazca Ridge, was newly recorded and mapped 900 nautical miles (about 1,600 kilometers) off the coast of Chile. It is over two miles high and, according to scientists, is home to a thriving deep-sea ecosystem.
A Casper octopus was also spotted — the first time this species has been seen in the South Pacific, the Marine Research Foundation also announced. Two rare Bathyphysa jellyfish — also known as the flying spaghetti monster (pictured below) — were also spotted.
Using an underwater robot, the team explored a field of about 800 square meters of deep-sea corals on one of the mountains, containing a variety of organisms such as rockfish, brittle stars and king crabs.
Remarkable diversity of species
Photos were also taken of bizarre-looking sea toads (Chaunacops). The seamounts of the southeastern Pacific Ocean contain a remarkable diversity of species that, according to the discoveries, have never been found anywhere else.
The team of oceanographers led by the Schmidt Ocean Institute had explored part of the so-called Chile Ridge, about 1,500 kilometers off the coast. It is a deep-sea mountain range along the seam of two divergent tectonic plates. The findings confirmed how diverse the ecosystems are, says Tomer Ketter of the Schmidt Ocean Institute.
Source: Krone
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