Never-before-seen marine species discovered in Southern Ocean

William Atkins
Friday, 10 October 2008 20:37

Science - Biology

Scientists with the CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research unit have discovered hundreds of new marine species while exploring the Southern Ocean among a waterscape of extinct volcanoes.


A scientific team with CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (CMAR), a unit of the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organization (CSIRO), announced on Thursday, October 9, 2008, that they have discovered 274 crustaceans, molluscs, 2,000-year-old corals, and sponges that were unknown previously to the scientific community.

Eighty-six of species were not known to exist in Australian waters. The Southern Ocean is largely unexplored by scientists. The discovery adds evidence to the large biodiversity of marine life that exists in its waters.

The new species were all found about 9,800 feet (3,000 meters) under the surface of the Southern Ocean. They were found in two (out of fourteen) regions of the South-east Commonwealth Marine Regional Network, a part of the Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network.

The South-east Network contains about 87,000 square miles (226,000 square kilometers) of ocean surface off of Tasmania, Victoria, southern New South Wales and eastern South Australia.

They were living among extinct volcanoes that have made for a vibrant and rich environment for the marine life.

CMAR is based in Hobart, Tasmania. According to its website, “CMAR’s research focuses on issues affecting Australia and the world, and we provide a range of scientific and consulting services that are underpinned by research.”

Page two continues the story, along with pictures of some of the new species, provided by the National Geographic Society.