Catshark among more than 110 new deep-sea creatures discovered

WorldEnvironment
1 Apr 2026 • 9:14 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Scientists have discovered more than 110 new deep-sea creatures, with the number expected to exceed 200, in Australia's Coral Sea.
  • The discoveries were made in the Coral Sea Marine Park at depths between 2,000m and 3,000m by researchers aboard the vessel Investigator.
  • The expedition observed a rich diversity of marine life, including footage of a rare sand tiger shark, in this largely unexplored region off northeastern Australia.
  • DNA samples were collected, and subsequent workshops identified many new species, such as rays, a deep-water catshark, brittlestars, sea anemones, sponges, and crabs.
  • These findings are considered crucial for understanding and protecting Australia's marine biodiversity, with samples being preserved in national collections for future study.

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