20 Potentially New Animal Species Discovered on Ocean Floor

(Patria) - It is clear that we do not know much about the depths of our planet's oceans, so it is not surprising that scientists recently discovered about twenty potentially new animal species in just one exploration of the Nazca Ridge, an underwater mountain located about 1,500 kilometers off the coast of Chile.

They recorded real little wonders: Bathyphysa siphonophores (or, as they are popularly called, the flying spaghetti monster), a special type of octopus, starfish, crabs..., reports Jutarnji list.

All these creatures lived in a coral garden the size of three tennis courts and, interestingly, pollution had no impact on it.

Scientist Tomer Ketteri from the Schmidt Ocean Institute stated in a press release that this was their third expedition to the region and that they had explored about 25 underwater mountains.



- Our findings highlight the exceptional diversity of these ecosystems, while also revealing gaps in our understanding of how seamount ecosystems are interconnected, reports LADbible.

It was previously thought that about 1,019 species lived in this area, and now it has been determined that there are at least 1300.



Professor Alex David Rogers, Scientific Director of the Ocean Census program, explained that these underwater mountains are full of species not found elsewhere.

Jyotika Virmani, Executive Director of the Schmidt Ocean Institute, added that the results are amazing.



- The discovery of a new underwater mountain over three kilometers high, which is almost four times the height of the Burj Khalifa, with a remarkably vibrant ecosystem is very exciting.

Only 26 percent of the ocean floor has been mapped in high resolution, and every expedition to the area reveals a little more of the previously unknown seabed and life on our planet - added Virmani.