Scientists’ surprising discovery in Antarctica reveals new data on climate change and its impact on the ecosystem. A group of scientists made a historic discovery in Antarctica that could open the door to knowledge about new marine species in one of the least explored regions of the planet, notable for their unique anatomy. During an expedition to the coldest continent on Earth, the experts announced the discovery that surprised the scientific community, as these are animals unknown to biology, as reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in April this year. The discovery of the century: never-before-seen aquatic animals found in Antarctica.
What did researchers discover in Antarctica?
Jan Strugnell, professor at James Cook University and leader of the study, highlighted the significance of the discovery: ‘We collected a wide variety of marine organisms, and probably some species new to science.’ The group of experts found several creatures, in particular some curious species that had never been documented before, which are as follows:
- 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 reveals all the secrets that have remained hidden until now,’ commented Australian Antarctic Program Association expert Laura Herraiz Borreguero about a ‘sea butterfly’.
The voyage to the Antarctic Ocean that revealed the new species
The scientists did not expect to find these specimens, as they were on a 60-day voyage on the icebreaker RSV Nuyina, which was scheduled to end in the middle of the year. The researchers sought to analyse the effects of rising temperatures in the Antarctic Ocean and assess the situation on the surface of the Denman Glacier, which receded approximately 5 km between 1996 and 2018 and is the fastest melting glacier. ‘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,’ the authors of the report said.
New discoveries in marine biology with unknown species
The discoveries included two known living beings and one without a scientific name, which represents an advance in marine biology:
- Sea pig (Protelpidia murrayi): an animal from the sea cucumber group that inhabits the deepest areas of the oceans, the abyss. It lives on the deep continental shelf around Antarctica (400-900 metres deep). Its body is swollen, jelly-like, measures between 4 and 15 centimetres and has no eyes.
- Sea butterfly (Clio pyramidata): another fascinating creature is this sea snail that seems to fly when moving in the water. When a specimen was captured, it laid eggs in one of the boat’s containers, which allowed its development to be studied for the first time.
- Sea spider: it is called an arachnid, although it is not a spider. It is the size of a hand, but is more closely related to crabs. It can reach up to 51 centimetres.
Unusual find: a jade-coloured iceberg
Another impressive discovery of the expedition was a jade-coloured iceberg, which is bluish-green in colour and named after the precious stone. Professor Delphine Lannuzel mentioned that the iceberg’s peculiar colour may be due to its high iron content. ‘These iron oxides absorb blue light, which is what gives the jade iceberg its colour,’ added the professor from the Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science.
Why is Antarctica not fully explored?
According to the Greenpeace Spain website, the Antarctic landmass is protected thanks to the Antarctic Treaty of 1961. All military activities were banned there, and this land environment was established for scientific research. Subsequently, in 1980, the organisation requested that protection be improved in view of the growth of the oil and mining industries, which led to a new agreement. However, the Antarctic Ocean is not included in the treaty, so there are many expeditions that endanger the white continent.
What is the largest animal in Antarctica?
The largest animal inhabiting Antarctica is also the largest in the world. It is the Antarctic blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia), which can reach 29 metres in length and 180 tonnes, the equivalent of 33 elephants. Its heart is the size of a small car and, during the feeding season, it consumes around 3,600 kg of krill per day. It is also the loudest living creature on Earth, with songs that exceed 188 decibels and travel hundreds of kilometres, possibly to attract other whales. Its main habitat is concentrated in the Antarctic Ocean, where waters such as those of South Georgia are essential for its summer feeding.
