A strange deep-sea fish related to sharks, a sponge that traps prey with tiny hooks, and a shrimp hiding in a cave off the French coast are among 1,121 marine species newly identified over the past year. The findings come from the Ocean Census, an initiative launched by The Nippon Foundation and Nekton to speed up the process of discovering and describing marine life.
Scientists involved in the project say the effort is becoming increasingly urgent as some species could decline before researchers even have the chance to document them.
Over the last year, teams carried out 13 expeditions in locations stretching from Mediterranean sea caves to depths of more than 21,500 feet (6,575 meters). The program boosted the global rate of marine species discovery by 54 percent. Researchers also estimate that up to 90 percent of marine species may still be unknown.
Deep-ocean Creatures Reveal Hidden Biodiversity
Some of the most striking discoveries came from the deep sea, where scientists continue to find species unlike anything previously recorded. One of them is a new species of chimaera, often known as a “ghost shark,” discovered in Australia’s Coral Sea Marine Park.
Data released by the Ocean Census show that chimaeras split from sharks and rays nearly 400 million years ago, making them part of a very ancient lineage of fish.
Near volcanic seamounts in Japan, researchers identified a new species of bristle worm living inside the delicate silica skeleton of a glass sponge at a depth of nearly 800 meters (2,624 feet). Another unusual find was made near the South Sandwich Islands. There, scientists documented a carnivorous sponge living more than 11,800 feet (3,600 meters) below the surface.
Unlike most sponges, which feed by filtering particles from seawater, this species captures small crustaceans using microscopic hook-like structures. Researchers gave it the nickname “death ball.”
Surprises Much Closer To The Surface
Not every discovery required a trip into the deep ocean. Some of the newly identified species were found in places that are far easier to reach.
In a cave near Marseille, on France’s Mediterranean coast, a team discovered an orange-striped shrimp living between 50 and 115 feet (15 to 35 meters) below the surface. The find shows that even coastal environments that have been studied for decades can still hold species that have escaped scientific attention.
The Ocean Census also reported the identification of brightly colored ribbon worms in Timor-Leste. The animals measure less than 1.2 inches (3 centimeters) long.
“Beyond their ecological role as predators, these worms may have biomedical significance; some of their unique toxins have been investigated as potential treatments for Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia,” the organization noted.
A Race to Identify New Species
Finding a new species is only the first step. Officially describing and classifying it can take years. Figures published by the Ocean Census indicate that the average gap between collecting a specimen and publishing its scientific description is around 13.5 years. Researchers say that delay can leave important questions unanswered about species that may already be under pressure.
“With many species at risk of disappearing before they are even documented, we are in a race against time to understand and protect ocean life,” said Michelle Taylor, head of science at the Ocean Census.
To help shorten that timeline, the initiative recently launched NOVA, an open-access platform that allows species discoveries to be digitally recorded and shared within days or weeks. The project now brings together more than 1,400 scientists from 85 countries, based on figures provided by the organization. For Mitsuyuku Unno, Executive Director of The Nippon Foundation:
“This year, the Ocean Census has shown what is possible when ambition, partnership, and science come together…More than a thousand new marine species discovered in a single year is not just a scientific achievement — it is a reminder of how much there still is to know.”
Despite covering more than 70 percent of Earth’s surface, the ocean still contains vast areas that have yet to be fully explored.
