Guitar sharks and squat lobsters: Meet the new sea discoveries
Check out these wonders from the seas
- Published
Over 800 new species have been discovered in the sea after a big creature-finding mission.
The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census was launched in 2023, as the world's largest effort to speed up the discovery of new marine life.
The team behind the project say that although oceans covers 70% of our planet, it is estimated that only 10% of sea species have been discovered - with 1 to 2 million species still out there.
After 10 ocean expeditions, these are some of the species they found...
Guitar shark Rhinobatos sp.
This rock and roll creature is part of a unique group of animals that share characteristics with sharks and rays. The guitar shark family is also super rare, with two-thirds of its species classed as threatened. This particular guitar shark - given the Latin name Rhinobatos sp. - was found off Tanzania, and is only the 38th known species of its kind.
Limpet Cocculina sp.
This limpet is extreme... because it loves dramatic ocean environments. Found at more than 3,000m deep in the Arctic Ocean, it can withstand the pressure of the deep sea, survive in extremely cold waters and temperatures over 300C!
Pygmy Pipehorse Syngnathidae
At 4cm, these little guys are the only type of pygmy pipehorse that have been found in Africa - discovered by a local scuba dive company as they explored the seas. They're masters of disguise, with a detailed pattern of colours that make it easy to blend into their environment.
Gastropod Turridrupa sp.
This shell might look cute, but the snail inside has harpoon-like teeth with a dangerous toxin - or poison. Its relatives, called turrid gastropods, have been used for medical breakthroughs in pain relief and treatments, so its hoped that this one can be helpful for human health too.
Mollusc Granulina nekton
This mollusc was one of the earliest discoveries from the Ocean Census, and a quick one too. The process from finding to classifying a new species usually takes 13.5 years, but this took just 2 days! It was found just off Tenerife in 2023.
Sea star Tylaster sp.
This sea star is an environmental hero, as a top recycler. Found in deep sea extreme conditions, it recycles nutrients that support life in the ocean. It's only the second recorded species for the family of creatures that it belongs to, with the first one discovered way back in 1881.
Squat lobster Galathea sp.
Living near Rapa Nui (Easter Island), this squat lobster likes to shelter in deep sea corals or crawl along undersea rocks. It was discovered as part of an expedition in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, and is the first species of its kind to be found there.