Uncommon Marine Life Discovered in the Frigid Depths of Antarctica

Species of rare calmar have been filmed in the depths of the southern ocean.

The immensity of ocean depths

As we know, the marine world still has a lot to teach us and offer us. To date, only 5% of the ocean depths have been explored. So inevitably, it often happens that new species are discovered by researchers.

Recently, researchers from the Mindero-Uwa Deep-Search Center, based at the University of Western Australia in Australia, and Inkfish, a marine research organization, observed many rare calmars during an expedition, more than 1,000 meters in depth, in the waters the Antarctic Peninsula. The two entities collaborate to map and explore the deepest ocean areas.

Rare cephalopod species

Accompanied by their remote -controlled vehicle (ROV), the research team was able to observe for example a kind of cephalopod called Longimana moratothopsis. This little -known Calmar species is recognizable thanks to its ghostly white color and long tentacles. “We know little about this species of depths, but his name evokes his unusual arms. Probably a hunter in full water, it is a rare observation ”, explained the researchers by sharing a video on their Instagram account.

Iflscience also tells us that other species such as Slosarczykovia Circamantarctica, which has translucent tissues leaving its apparent internal organs, or Alleuroteuthis Antarcticus, which is located as a slightly deeper depth (1500 m), which stands out from the others by its scarlet red color, which has been qualified as being being “Bigger surprise” shipping.

The rich marine biodiversity of Antarctica

Although it is fragile and threatened, the marine biodiversity of Antarctica is very large, starting with the cephalopods. In addition to the examples mentioned above, it is possible to find species with small individuals, which are barely 20 cm, and species with individuals at the impressive size, such as colossal calmar, or giant octopus.

There are also many species of whales, such as blue whale or humpback whale, penguins, but also many endemic species, such as notothenioids, which have an antifreeze protein, which allows them to be able to survive in the freezing ocean of Antarctic.

Source: Iflscience