Deep sea expedition reveals 100 species living in Chilean seamounts

An underwater study discovered 100 new species in a dive off the Chilean coast. The study identified many deep-sea species and found some likely unknown to science.

The expedition photographed all the discoveries while studying an underwater mountain system to advance Chile's marine conservation efforts.

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Photo: Schmidt Ocean Institute / CC BY-NC-SA

According to a press release, the team explored seamounts along the Salas y Gómez and Nazca Ridge, extending from Chile's coast to Rapa Nui, or Easter Island.

Photo: Schmidt Ocean Institute / CC BY-NC-SA

They also looked into two underwater national conservation areas: the Juan Fernandez and Nazca-Desventuradas marine parks.

Photo: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute / CC BY-NC-SA

A promotional video explained how scientists from the Universidad Catolica del Norte and the Schmidt Ocean Institute, including Rapa Nui researchers and students.

Photo: Alex Ingle / Schmidt Ocean Institute / CC BY-NC-SA

The Schmidt Ocean Institute explained that the scientists mapped over 32,000 square miles around the 1800-mile-long Ridge, which contains more than 200 seamounts.

Photo: Alex Ingle / Schmidt Ocean Institute / CC BY-NC-SA

They used an underwater robot capable of descending more than 14,000 feet to the ocean's depth, which they used to collect data from ten seamounts.

Photo: Alex Ingle / Schmidt Ocean Institute / CC BY-NC-SA

After the descent, they found a thriving ecosystem in the underwater mountains, with deep-sea coral reefs and sponge gardens.

Photo: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute / CC BY-NC-SA

The expedition's leader, Javier Sellanes of the Universidad Catolica del Norte, said the number of species they found exceeded their expectations.

Photo: Alex Ingle / Schmidt Ocean Institute / CC BY-NC-SA

In a press release, he said, "These thriving and healthy ecosystems indicate that the Nazca-Desventuradas and Juan Fernández Marine Parks effectively protect delicate marine habitats."

Photo: Alex Ingle / Schmidt Ocean Institute / CC BY-NC-SA

Among the most fascinating species they found was a crochet-looking bright-red sea toad, called Chaunacops. The animal raised headlines for its fun appearance.

Photo: Schmidt Ocean Institute / CC BY-NC-SA

They also found a spiraling coral, shown in the picture, among many others inside the protected areas.

Photo: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute / CC BY-NC-SA

Sellanes was shocked, particularly by the number of sponge species they found. "(It) is mind-blowing," he said in the Schmidt Ocean Institute press release.

Photo: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute / CC BY-NC-SA

In addition to the new species, the research team discovered four new seamounts within Chilean waters.

Photo: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute / CC BY-NC-SA

The researchers named one of them 'Solito.' It was the highest, with more than 11,500 feet, and was fully mapped and explored for the first time.

Photo: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute / CC BY-NC-SA

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Sellanes said that it can take years to identify the species. They hope to add them to a list of 10,000 new marine species that the Nippon Foundation – Nekton Ocean Census Program set out to find in the next decade.

Photo: Alex Ingle / Schmidt Ocean Institute / CC BY-NC-SA