Orange-eyed sea creature with dozens of eggs found off Louisiana. It’s a new species

Thousands of feet down in the Gulf of Mexico, an orange-eyed sea creature carrying dozens of eggs perched near a chemical vent. The “squat” animal had been documented by submersibles several times, but its identity “remained a mystery” — until now.

Scientists first encountered these mysterious orange lobsters in the 1990s while using remotely operated vehicles to explore marine life off the coast of Louisiana, according to a study published Sept. 10 in the peer-reviewed journal Zoosystematics and Evolution.

Over several decades and multiple research cruises, scientists collected dozens of these “extremely abundant” lobsters, but no one really tried to identify them.

A trio of researchers decided to change that.

The researchers studied some archive specimens, analyzed their DNA and collected observations from past expeditions. Slowly, they realized that they’d discovered a new species: Munidopsis sedna, or the Mistress of the Sea squat lobster.

Mistress of the Sea squat lobsters are small, their bodies measuring less than one inch in length, the study said. They have a fairly smooth texture, “light orange” eyes and pincers.

A photo shows the bright coloring of the new species.

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Mistress of the Sea squat lobsters live between 1,500 and 4,100 feet down near cold seeps, a type of deep-sea vent that spews chemicals, the study said. Researchers described the environment as “extreme.”

The new species was usually found “clinging” to groups of tube worms or mussels, researchers said. Several females were found with between 5 and 25 eggs.

Researchers said they named the new species after Sedna, “the goddess of the sea and marine animals, also known as the Mother or Mistress of the Sea,” in Inuit mythology. They did not say why.

So far, the Mistress of the Sea squat lobster has been found at several sites in the northern part of the Gulf of Mexico, the study said. These sites are primarily off the coast of Louisiana but also near Alabama and Mississippi.

The new species was identified by its preferred habitat, DNA, texture, body shape and other subtle physical features, the study said.

The research team included Paula Rodríguez-Flores, Julie Ambler and Martha Nizinski.

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