Over 50 New Marine Species Discovered Off the Coast of Rapa Nui
Despite the fact that humans like to believe that we know all there is to know about everything, there is a LOT we don’t — especially when it comes to the ocean. And recently, researchers were reminded of that when dozens of heretofore unknown marine species off the coast of Rapa Nui, a.k.a. Easter Island.
The creatures, which included species of fish, squid, corals, sea stars, sponges, sea urchins, and more. Found along the Salas y Gómez Ridge, the never-before-seen animals were spotted on an expedition by the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s R/V Falkor, which is in the process of surveying the sea bottom off the coast of Chile.
The Salas y Gómez Ridge is a small part of a chain of volcanic seamounts. Of the 160 different species the team identified, some 50 were undiscovered. “The observation of distinct ecosystems on individual seamounts highlights the importance of protecting the entire ridge, not just a few seamounts,” Dr Erin E Easton, Chief Scientist at Schmidt and Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, said in a statement. “We hope the data collected from this expedition will help establish new marine protected areas, including on the high seas on the Salas y Gómez Ridge.”
The expedition, along with the discovery of the new species, mapped over 30,000 square miles of seafloor, which included six seamounts that hadn’t been seen before. Seamounts are generally places rich in marine life. In February of 2024, the Schmidt Ocean Institute undertook another mission which found over 100 new species living in the area.
A Chaunax (genus of bony fish in the sea toad family).
The area has been described as “pristine.” It’s a place virtually untouched by the grasping fingers of man, and it shows what much of the ocean could look like if we weren’t pillaging it.
“The astonishing habitats and animal communities that we have unveiled during these two expeditions constitute a dramatic example of how little we know about this remote area,” explained Dr Javier Sellanes of the Universidad Católica del Norte. “These expeditions will help alert decision-makers about the ecological importance of the areas and contribute to strengthening protection strategies within and beyond jurisdictional waters.”
The post Over 50 New Marine Species Discovered Off the Coast of Rapa Nui first appeared on The Inertia.
