An expedition led by the Schmidt Ocean Institute discovers new marine species on a 3,000-meter underwater mountain and never-before-seen creatures off the coast of Chile.
An international team of researchers has marked a milestone in ocean exploration by confirming the discovery of at least 20 potential new marine species and a towering underwater mountain in international waters of the Nazca Ridge.
The expedition, coordinated by the Schmidt Ocean Institute in collaboration with Ocean Census and the Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping, explored for 28 days one of the most enigmatic regions of the South Pacific, located about 1,448 kilometers from the Chilean coast.
The central element of the discovery is an underwater mountain whose magnitude challenges previous cartography: it rises more than 3,109 meters from the seabed, supporting an ecosystem of exceptional biological richness.
Using underwater robotic technology, the scientists managed to document peaks inhabited by sponge gardens and colonies of ancient corals, which serve as a refuge for a biodiversity that is just beginning to be understood.
Creatures from the Depths: The Casper Octopus and the “Spaghetti Monster”
Among the most notable biological findings is the first sighting of the “Casper octopus” in the South Pacific, a species with a spectral appearance that was previously only known in other latitudes.
Additionally, the mission recorded two specimens of siphonophores from the genus Bathyphysa, popularly dubbed as “flying spaghetti monsters” due to their unusual filamentous morphology.
Another scientific success was the filming, for the first time, of a live specimen of squid from the genus Promachoteuthis, an extremely rare find for marine biology.
According to experts, these observations not only expand the inventory of life on Earth but also reveal significant extensions in the distribution range of already known species.
Towards the Protection of High Seas Biodiversity
This journey represents the third incursion of the year into the Nazca and Salas and Gómez ridges. In total, the accumulated scientific effort in 2024 has documented more than 150 previously unknown species after exploring nearly 25 underwater mountains.
Tomer Ketter, marine technician at the Schmidt Ocean Institute and associate chief scientist, highlighted that these results demonstrate the deep knowledge gaps that still exist about the interconnection of these ecosystems.
The information collected will serve as a technical basis to promote global conservation policies. Currently, the Nazca Ridge is one of the priority areas to be designated as a Marine Protected Area in the high seas, in order to safeguard these pristine environments from extractive activities and ensure their study for future generations.
