A group of researchers has made a historic discovery in Antarctica that could open the door to knowledge of new marine species in one of the most unexplored regions of the planet, which have attracted attention for their unique anatomy. During a mission to the coldest continent on Earth, the experts announced the discovery that surprised the entire scientific community, as these creatures are unknown to biology, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in September this year.
Historic discovery in Antarctica: what was found
Jan Strugnell, professor at James Cook University and leader of the research, highlighted the relevance of this advance for science: ‘We collected a wide diversity of marine organisms and probably some new species.’ The team of scientists identified several creatures, including some unusual species that had never been recorded before, such as:
- Sea pigs
- Sea spiders
- Sea butterflies
- Octopuses
- Starfish
- Crustaceans
‘The team is very excited to have this little creature, to observe it and care for it, so that it can reveal all the secrets that have been hidden until now,’ said Laura Herraiz Borreguero, an expert from the Australian Antarctic Programme Association. Discovery of the century | Never-before-seen sea creatures found in Antarctica could rewrite the history of biology.
This is how the research in Antarctica went
Scientists did not expect to find these peculiar specimens, as they were on a six-day trip aboard the icebreaker RSV Nuyina, whose route was scheduled to end in the middle of the year. The main objective of the researchers was to study the effects of rising temperatures in the Antarctic Ocean and assess the state of the Denman Glacier, an area under constant observation due to the fact that it receded about 5 kilometres between 1996 and 2018, being one of the fastest melting glaciers in the region.
‘In order for us to really understand how much heat enters the ice shelf, we need to be as close as possible to understand these processes and properties of the ocean,’ explained the authors of the study, who also managed to observe a jade-coloured iceberg, a rare phenomenon on this type of expedition. Professor Delphine Lannuzel pointed out that the unusual colour of the iceberg may be related to its high iron content. ‘These iron oxides absorb blue light, and that’s what gives the jade iceberg its colour,’ added the researcher from the Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science.
What are the newly discovered species?
The discoveries included two known organisms and one that does not yet have a scientific name, representing an important advance for marine biology:
- Sea pig (Protelpidia murrayi): belongs to the sea cucumber group and is found in the deepest areas of the oceans, the abyss. It inhabits the deep continental shelf around Antarctica, between 400 and 900 metres deep. Its body is swollen, measures between 4 and 15 centimetres and has no eyes.
- Sea butterfly (Clio pyramidata): this curious sea snail gives the impression of ‘flying’ as it moves through the water. During the expedition, one specimen laid eggs in one of the ship’s containers, allowing scientists to study its development for the first time.
- Sea spider: so called because of its appearance, it is not a true spider. It is about the size of a hand, but is more closely related to crabs and can reach up to 51 centimetres in length.
