PHOTOS: Bay Area scientists discover 20 previously unknown marine species

VALPARAISO, Chile ( KRON ) — A group of Palo Alto oceanographers just concluded a 28-day expedition mapping a new seamount on the Nazca Ridge, 900 miles off the coast of Chile.

While conducting exploratory dives with an underwater robot, scientists from the Schmidt Ocean Institute discovered a 1.9-mile underwater mountain housing sponge gardens and ancient corals.

“The discovery of a new seamount almost 2 miles tall – almost four times as tall as the Burj Khalifa – with a vibrant ecosystem was very exciting,” said Co-Chief Scientist and Schmidt Ocean Institute Executive Director Dr. Jyotika Virmani.

The newly discovered mountain, according to Schmidt researchers, “harbors a pristine coral garden consisting of deep-sea corals that provide shelter for an array of organisms such as rockfish, brittle stars, and king crabs.” In total, researchers discovered 20 suspected new marine species.

One of the creatures discovered was a live Promachoteuthis squid, “a genus that is so rare that only three species have been described based on only a few collected specimens, several of which are from the late 1800s,” scientists said.

Schmidt researchers said footage of the Promachoteuthis squid was the first ever captured in history. “Until now, the squid genus has only been characterized from dead samples found in nets.”

They also documented a Casper octopus, the first time this species has been seen in the Southern Pacific. The expedition also saw two rare Bathyphysa siphonophores , commonly known as “flying spaghetti monsters.”

“Our findings highlight the remarkable diversity of these ecosystems, while simultaneously revealing the gaps in our understanding of how the seamount ecosystems are interconnected. We hope the data gathered from these expeditions will help inform future policies, safeguarding these pristine environments for future generations.”

Co-Chief Scientist and Schmidt Ocean Institute Marine Technician, Tomer Ketter.

This was the third expedition this year exploring the Nazca Ridges. Two previous expeditions documented more than 150 previously unknown marine mammal species. “An additional 20 suspected new species were collected during this expedition,” researchers said.

The records, according to Schmidt researchers, will be sent to the Ocean Census, an international and collaborative alliance to accelerating the discovery and protection of wildlife.

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