Exploring the Deep Ocean: Biologists Document 100 New Species off Chile's Coast

An international team of scientists recently returned from a groundbreaking deep-sea expedition off the coast of Chile, bringing back evidence of more than 100 previously unknown marine species. This incredible discovery highlights how much of our ocean remains completely hidden and why mapping these remote underwater habitats is critical for modern marine biology.

The Schmidt Ocean Institute Expedition

In early 2024, researchers boarded the research vessel Falkor (too), operated by the Schmidt Ocean Institute. Their mission was to explore the deep waters off the western coast of South America. Led by Dr. Javier Sellanes of the Universidad Católica del Norte in Chile, the team focused their efforts on a massive chain of underwater mountains.

The scientists spent weeks living at sea. They worked around the clock to deploy advanced scientific equipment into waters that are entirely pitch black and under crushing pressure. The primary goal of the expedition was to gather data that could support the creation of international marine protected areas. By documenting the exact types of animals living in these waters, researchers can prove to governments why these specific ocean zones need strict legal protection from deep-sea mining and commercial fishing.

Exploring the Salas y Gómez and Nazca Ridges

The targeted location for this research was a specific geological feature known as the Salas y Gómez Ridge, along with the adjoining Nazca Ridge. These underwater mountain ranges stretch for over 2,900 kilometers across the southeastern Pacific Ocean. They run all the way from the coast of Chile toward Rapa Nui (Easter Island).

Underwater mountains are known as seamounts. They act as biological hotspots in the middle of the open ocean. Because the flat ocean floor is often covered in soft mud, seamounts provide rare rocky surfaces where deep-sea corals and sponges can anchor themselves. Once these foundational species take hold, they create complex habitats that attract smaller fish, crustaceans, and eventually larger predators.

During the expedition, the research team explored areas within and just outside the borders of two existing marine protected areas: the Juan Fernández and Nazca-Desventuradas marine parks. By looking at the seamounts outside the protected borders, they discovered that the thriving biological communities extended much further than previously mapped.

Meet the Bizarre New Marine Life

The most exciting outcome of the Falkor (too) expedition was the sheer volume of undocumented life. The team estimates they found over 100 new species. These are not microscopic organisms. They are large, complex animals that have evolved fascinating adaptations to survive in freezing temperatures and total darkness.

Some of the most notable discoveries included:

• Deep-Sea Corals: The team found massive spiraling corals and ancient coral reefs that have likely been growing slowly for thousands of years.
• The Sea Toad: Also known as a chaunacops, this bright red fish has modified fins that function almost like legs. It uses these fins to “walk” across the seafloor rather than swim.
• Glass Sponges: Scientists documented delicate sponges with skeletons made of silica (glass). These organisms filter tiny food particles from the water passing over the seamounts.
• Squat Lobsters: The cameras captured footage of unique crustaceans living among the branches of the deep-sea corals. They often have bright orange or pale white shells to blend into their surroundings.
• Urchins and Amphipods: The team found a massive variety of spiky sea urchins and tiny shrimp-like amphipods thriving in the sediment near the base of the underwater mountains.

The Technology Making It Possible

Discovering new species at extreme depths requires heavy machinery. Human divers cannot survive the pressure of the deep ocean, so the team relied on a highly advanced underwater robot known as ROV SuBastian.

ROV SuBastian is a remotely operated vehicle capable of diving up to 4,500 meters below the ocean surface. It is equipped with high-definition 4K cameras, powerful mechanical arms, and specialized collection vacuums. Pilots aboard the Falkor (too) steered the robot using a fiber-optic tether, allowing the scientists to watch the video feed live from the control room.

When the scientists spotted an animal they did not recognize, the ROV pilots carefully used the mechanical arms to collect a physical sample. The robot then placed the sample into a secure, temperature-controlled box for the long journey back to the surface.

In addition to collecting biological samples, the expedition successfully mapped exactly 52,777 square kilometers of the seafloor using high-resolution sonar technology. This mapping revealed four entirely new seamounts that had never been documented before. The tallest of these newly discovered mountains rises an impressive 3,530 meters from the ocean floor.

The Long Road to Official Classification

While the initial video footage and physical samples strongly suggest the team found 100 new species, the scientific process is far from over. Proving that an animal is a brand-new species requires an extensive taxonomy process that can take years.

Scientists back at the Universidad Católica del Norte and their partner institutions must now study every single specimen in a laboratory. They will look at the physical anatomy of the animals under microscopes and compare them to every known species in global databases. More importantly, they will extract DNA from the samples. By sequencing the genetic code of these creatures, the biologists can definitively prove their unique place on the evolutionary tree of life. Only after this rigorous peer-reviewed process is complete will these bizarre deep-sea creatures receive their official scientific names.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a seamount? A seamount is an underwater mountain formed by volcanic activity. They rise thousands of meters from the ocean floor but do not reach the water’s surface. Seamounts are incredibly important because they provide hard rocky surfaces for deep-sea life to attach to and grow.

How deep did the expedition go? The scientists used a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) named SuBastian that can dive up to 4,500 meters (about 2.8 miles) deep. The underwater mountains they explored featured ecosystems thriving at various extreme depths.

Why are deep-sea animals often red or white? In the deep ocean, the color red is essentially invisible because red light waves from the sun cannot penetrate that far down in the water. Many deep-sea animals are red to hide from predators. Others are totally white or translucent because they do not need skin pigments in environments with absolutely zero sunlight.

Will the newly discovered species be kept in an aquarium? No. Deep-sea creatures are adapted to freezing temperatures and immense water pressure. They cannot survive in standard surface-level aquariums. The specimens collected by the scientists are carefully preserved for laboratory study and genetic sequencing.