Unveiling of New Deep-Sea Creatures Off the Coast of Western Australia
Exciting new discoveries from the depths of the sea have introduced us to a new species of lanternshark and a unique porcelain crab. These discoveries were made possible through an extensive expedition deep into the sea that took place off the coast of Western Australia.
Meet the Fascinating Lanternshark
First on the list of discoveries is a lanternshark. This new species, named after the region where it was discovered, can be found as deep as 610 meters below the surface. This lanternshark has been described as a small but fascinating creature, with the largest specimen reaching a length of only 407 mm.
What makes this lanternshark truly unique is its ability to glow in the dark. Yes, you read that correctly! Lanternsharks are bioluminescent creatures, meaning they can produce light. This natural light show is created by special cells called photophores located on the shark's belly and flanks, which give the lanternshark its common name.
Interestingly, this is the third new shark species that has been identified from the same deep-sea journey. It joins the ranks of the Painted Hornshark and Ridged-egg Catshark, both of which were announced a year after the expedition.
Welcome the New Porcelain Crab
The second new species to be revealed is a tiny porcelain crab, co-living in harmony with sea pens, a group of soft corals related to sea fans. Measuring around 15 millimeters in length, this new crab has an opalescent white-yellow color, allowing it to blend seamlessly among the white leaves of the sea pen. This new species was discovered during surveys along the Ningaloo coast at depths of up to 122 meters.
Unlike most crabs that grab and pinch food with their claws, porcelain crabs are filter feeders. They have specialized mouthparts with long hairs that help them sweep the water for tiny bits of food, such as plankton, making them particularly adapted to their environment.
Additional specimens used to describe this new crab species were collected during a previous expedition.
A Treasure Trove of Marine Life
These latest discoveries add to an impressive list of nearly 20 new species that have been identified from specimens collected during the voyage. This includes the Carnarvon Flapjack Octopus, which was announced earlier this year. Astoundingly, it is estimated that there could be up to 600 new species yet to be identified from this one voyage.
The vast depths of the sea remain largely uncharted, and biodiversity surveys like these are crucial to expanding our knowledge of the amazing marine life that exists beneath the surface of our oceans.
Researchers are eagerly anticipating the discovery of even more new species during a planned expedition to survey the deep-sea biodiversity of the Coral Sea Marine Park. This upcoming voyage will see many of the same researchers from the previous expedition joining forces with new collaborators and partners, ready to transform curiosity into discovery once again.