Scientists Discover Underwater Mountain Range Teeming With Possible New Species

Researchers have discovered an underwater mountain 900 miles off the coast of Chile which may contain as many as 20 previously undiscovered species, astonishing footage shows.

ABC News and Astrobiology News reported that the 1.9-mile tall seamount—one-third the height of Mount Everest—was discovered during a 28-day expedition to the Nazca Ridge, an underwater mountain range located in the southeast Pacific Ocean, overseen by Schmidt Ocean Institute. From a state-of-the-art research vessel, scientists used a remotely operated vehicle to gather images and samples of the sealife from the ridge. Before this exploration, researchers were unsure of the ridge’s exact location and height.

At the Nazca Ridge, they discovered a plethora of potentially new creatures. These included urchins, anemones, several shrimp, a squat lobster, a sea toad, and two Bathyphysa siphonophores, which are colloquially known as “flying spaghetti monsters” for their clumpy appearance. Fossilized whale bones were also found at the site, which could pave the way for the discovery of a previously unknown type of ancient whale.

Researchers plan to submit photos of each of the life forms to the Ocean Census, which will decide of they are indeed new species. However, verification can take up to several years. Notably, scientists also discovered a rare Casper octopus on the ridge, which has previously only been studied from dead samples.

The Schmidt Institute’s director, Jyotika Virmani, noted that these discoveries are just the tip of the iceberg, considering that only 26 percent of the ocean floor has been explored in such detail. Each exploration of a different underwater region "brings into focus a little more of the unknown seabed and life on our home planet,” Virmani said.

"Upon concluding our third expedition to the region, we’ve explored around 25 seamounts on the Nazca and Salas y Gómez Ridges," Tomas Ketter, a marine technician at the institute, explained. "We hope the data gathered from these expeditions will help inform future policies, safeguarding these pristine environments for future generations."