{"id":36717,"date":"2024-03-11T14:55:35","date_gmt":"2024-03-11T13:55:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fa22174b-4192-4b0e-b185-7745ae1ae07b"},"modified":"2024-03-11T15:35:43","modified_gmt":"2024-03-11T14:35:43","slug":"100-new-ocean-species-discovered-off-the-coast-of-new-zealand","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/100-new-ocean-species-discovered-off-the-coast-of-new-zealand\/","title":{"rendered":"100 new ocean species discovered off the coast of New Zealand"},"content":{"rendered":"

A team of scientists believe they have discovered over 100 new marine species \u2013 including fish, shrimp and corals \u2013 following a three-week exploration of New Zealand’s vast Bounty Trough. <\/p>

By Daniel Graham\n <\/p>

Published: Monday, 11 March 2024 at 13:55 PM<\/p>

\n\n

A three-week exploration of an enormous underwater depression 500 miles long and 4,800 metres deep has led to the discovery of more than 100 new ocean species, according to scientists.<\/p>

Researchers collected almost 1,800 samples during their study of New Zealand’s Bounty Trough, identifying an incredible array of new species including fish, snails, corals and sea cucumbers.<\/p>

Prior to the expedition, little was known about the animals that lived on\u00a0this deep seafloor habitat off New Zealand’s south-east coast.<\/p>

The\u00a0three-week voyage<\/a> on board the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric<\/a>‘s (NIWA) research vessel Tangaroa<\/em> comprised a team of scientists from NIWA and Te Papa in New Zealand, along with experts from the UK and Australia. <\/p>

The trip was the first flagship Southern Hemisphere expedition for Ocean Census<\/a>, a global alliance to accelerate the discovery and protection of life in the ocean.<\/p>

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Find out more about the voyage \u2013 and the findings. Credit: Ocean Census\/NIWA<\/figcaption><\/figure>
“It looks like we have a great haul of new, undiscovered species,” says Ocean Census science director Professor Alex Rogers. <\/p>
“By the time all our specimens are examined, we will be north of 100 new species. But what\u2019s really surprised me here is the fact this extends to animals like fish \u2013 we think we\u2019ve got three new species of fish.\u201d<\/p>
Ocean Census scientists sifting through their finds: Credit: Ocean Census\/NIWA<\/figcaption><\/figure>
The abundance of life in New Zealand’s Bounty Trough is a welcome surprise to scientists involved in the study.<\/p>
“We\u2019ve gone to lots of different habitats and discovered a whole range of new species, from fish to snails, to corals and sea cucumbers \u2013 really interesting species that are going to be new to science,” says voyage co-leader\u00a0NIWA marine biologist Sadie Mills.<\/p>
\u201cOcean Census has enabled us to explore an area of Aotearoa\u2019s deep seafloor that we previously knew little about in terms of the animals that live there.\u00a0<\/p>
\u201cThis partnership will not only add new species to our recently published New Zealand marine biodiversity inventory, but will improve our understanding of the seafloor habitats and living geographic and depth ranges of rare species.\u201d<\/p>
$\"Potential$
New species of corals are among the many finds. Credit: Ocean Census\/NIWA<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Now that the specimens have been collected, a team of scientists from around the world is working to confirm the finds. Using workshops at NIWA and Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa<\/a>, they will sort and describe the finds.<\/p>
$\"Carnivorous$
Researchers believe this creature may be a new species of carnivorous chiton. Credit: Ocean Census\/NIWA<\/figcaption><\/figure>
The team has already identified a number of new species, including dozens of molluscs, three fish, a cephalopod, a shrimp and a new genera of coral. <\/p>
Among the finds is one specimen that has experts stumped. Initially, researchers thought it could be a seastar or a sea anemone, but after examining the specimen this doesn’t seem to be the case.<\/p>
\u201cWe\u2019ve got a lot of experts here having a look who are very excited,” says Queensland Museum<\/a> network taxonomist Dr Michela Mitchell.<\/p>
\u201cWe now think it could be a new species of octocoral, but also a new genus (wider grouping of species). Even more excitingly, it could be a whole new group outside of the octocoral. If it is, that is a significant find for the deep sea and gives us a much clearer picture of the planet\u2019s unique biodiversity.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>
$\"Likely$
This is thought to be a new species of comma shrimp. Credit: Ocean Census\/NIWA<\/figcaption><\/figure>
The Ocean Census NIWA Bounty Trough Expedition has been a great success, believes Professor Alex Rogers: \u201cThe partnership with professional scientists from NIWA and Te Papa and the ship\u2019s crew from the RV Tangaroa has led to a transformative change in our understanding of this remote part of the ocean and the species that live within it, leaving a fantastic legacy for the people of New Zealand.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>
Andrew Stewart, curator fishes at Te Papa adds: \u201cIt was a privilege to collaborate with NIWA and Ocean Census. While our findings are significant, we know that we\u2019ve barely scratched the surface of the Bounty Trough \u2013 there\u2019s a whole other world of fauna still waiting to be discovered.\u201d<\/p>
The specimens collected will be housed in the NIWA Invertebrate Collection (NIC) and National Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in their Mollusca and Fish Collections. \u00a0<\/p>
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