PHOTOS: Oceanographers discover rare and unidentified species off coast of Chile

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Promachoteuthis squid This is the first footage of a live Promachoteuthis squid. Until now, the squid genus has only been characterized from dead samples found in nets. The squid was documented on Dive 693, while exploring an unnamed seamount (internally designated as T06) along the Nazca Ridge, off the coast of Chile. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute Due to our legal status as a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation, no media produced by Schmidt Ocean Institute may be used in attempting to influence legislation or lobbying. Additionally, all visual assets (Images, videos, etc) can only be used as stated by creative commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes. ShareAlike — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ (ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute)

Bathyphysa conifera (Flying Spaghetti Monster) A rarely seen Bathyphysa conifera, commonly known as flying spaghetti monster was documented on Dive 692 while the research team was surveying an unnamed and unexplored seamount (internally designated as T06) along the Nazca Ridge off the coast of Chile. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute Due to our legal status as a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation, no media produced by Schmidt Ocean Institute may be used in attempting to influence legislation or lobbying. Additionally, all visual assets (Images, videos, etc) can only be used as stated by creative commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes. ShareAlike — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ (ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute)

Chrysogorgia coral with associates Chrysogorgia (golden coral) with associates (squat lobster: Uroptychus sp.; benthic ctenophore: Lyrocteis sp.; seastar: Calliaster sp.) were documented during Dive 693, while the research team explored an unnamed seamount (internally designated as T06) along the Nazca Ridge off the coast of Chile. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute Due to our legal status as a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation, no media produced by Schmidt Ocean Institute may be used in attempting to influence legislation or lobbying. Additionally, all visual assets (Images, videos, etc) can only be used as stated by creative commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA Attribution You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. NonCommercial You may not use the material for commercial purposes. ShareAlike If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ (ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute)

Casper octopus This is the first time this rare octopus species informally named the Casper octopus has been seen in the Southern Pacific. Discovered in 2016 and nicknamed Casper, the species has not been scientifically described or formally named, as no one has collected a specimen yet. While little is known about this species, scientists do know that it is one of two octopuses found in the Oceans abyssal zone. The observation in this clip took place at 4,443 meters depth, almost three miles below the Oceans surface. From Dive 690, a full-depth test dive of ROV SuBastian. For this test dive, the team visited a seamount outside Peru's Exclusive Economic Zone, or EEZ. The seafloor feature had a distinctive disc shape and a summit close to ROV SuBastian's max depth of 4500m. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute Due to our legal status as a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation, no media produced by Schmidt Ocean Institute may be used in attempting to influence legislation or lobbying. Additionally, all visual assets (Images, videos, etc) can only be used as stated by creative commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA Attribution You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. NonCommercial You may not use the material for commercial purposes. ShareAlike If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ (ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute/ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute)

A Neolithodes sp. (king crab) with epibiont (Poecilasma sp.) A Neolithodes sp. (king crab) with epibiont (Poecilasma sp.) growth was documented on Dive 691 at Shorygin Guyot along the Nazca Ridge off the coast of Chile. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute Due to our legal status as a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation, no media produced by Schmidt Ocean Institute may be used in attempting to influence legislation or lobbying. Additionally, all visual assets (Images, videos, etc) can only be used as stated by creative commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA Attribution You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. NonCommercial You may not use the material for commercial purposes. ShareAlike If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ (ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute)

Deep-sea sponge colony This appears to be a Poliopogon sponge that has shrimp and other associates living on it, with bamboo coral branches in the foreground. Documented at 1223 meters deep on Dive 695, exploring an unnamed ridge (internally designated Dragon's Back) along the Nazca Ridge off the coast of Chile. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute Due to our legal status as a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation, no media produced by Schmidt Ocean Institute may be used in attempting to influence legislation or lobbying. Additionally, all visual assets (Images, videos, etc) can only be used as stated by creative commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes. ShareAlike — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ (ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute)

Corallium (hard coral) This hard coral (thought to be Corallium) was documented at 1526 meters deep on Dive 698 while researchers explored an unnamed, unexplored seamount (designated internally as T09) along the Nazca Ridge off the coast of Chile. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute Due to our legal status as a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation, no media produced by Schmidt Ocean Institute may be used in attempting to influence legislation or lobbying. Additionally, all visual assets (Images, videos, etc) can only be used as stated by creative commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA Attribution You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. NonCommercial You may not use the material for commercial purposes. ShareAlike If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ (ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute)

Paragorgia (bubblegum coral) covered with Midas touch Paragorgia (bubblegum coral) covered with Midas touch (Yellow Parazoanthidae), documented on seamount T08 along the Nazca Ridge off the coast of Chile. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute Due to our legal status as a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation, no media produced by Schmidt Ocean Institute may be used in attempting to influence legislation or lobbying. Additionally, all visual assets (Images, videos, etc) can only be used as stated by creative commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA Attribution You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. NonCommercial You may not use the material for commercial purposes. ShareAlike If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ (ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute)

A squat lobster in genus Sternostylus thought to be newly identified species A squat lobster in the genus Sternostylus - thought to be a newly identified species - was documented on Dive 698 while researchers explored an unnamed, unexplored seamount (designated internally as T09) along the Nazca Ridge off the coast of Chile. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute Due to our legal status as a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation, no media produced by Schmidt Ocean Institute may be used in attempting to influence legislation or lobbying. Additionally, all visual assets (Images, videos, etc) can only be used as stated by creative commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes. ShareAlike — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ (ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute)

Seamount biodiversity - Primnoid coral garden The seafloor is often soft and covered in layer upon layer of sediment; it is a suitable place for foraging, but there is no shelter or community. However, underwater mountains offer prime real estate for sponges, anemones, and coldwater corals. Not only do seamounts have a rocky substrate for these sessile (immobile) animals to cling to, they also offer a place for gathering nutrients carried by the currents so these slow-growing animals are able to establish lush deep sea gardens that support a host of wildlife. This scene was documented during Dive 697 while exploring a newly mapped seamount (designated internally as T08) of the Nazca Ridge, off the coast of Chile. The seamount biodiversity includes Primnoidae (Calyptrophora and Thouarella), Acanthogorgiidae, and Plexauridae coral gardens with coral associates (brittle stars and anemones) and fishes (Pentaceros richardsoni and Helicolenus lengerichi) and anemones. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute Due to our legal status as a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation, no media produced by Schmidt Ocean Institute may be used in attempting to influence legislation or lobbying. Additionally, all visual assets (Images, videos, etc) can only be used as stated by creative commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes. ShareAlike — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ (ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute)

Bathypterois atricolor (tripod fish) Bathypterois atricolor (tripod fish) documented at 1913 meters deep during Dive 695, while exploring an unnamed ridge (internally designated "Dragon's Back") in The Nazca Ridge, off the coast of Chile. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute Due to our legal status as a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation, no media produced by Schmidt Ocean Institute may be used in attempting to influence legislation or lobbying. Additionally, all visual assets (Images, videos, etc) can only be used as stated by creative commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes. ShareAlike — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ (ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute)

Chaunacops coloratus (sea toad) "standing" on fins A Chaunacops coloratus, commonly known as a sea toad, using its pectoral fins braced against both rock and sand. Documented at 1430 meters deep on Dive 696 while exploring a newly discovered and mapped seamount, cataloged as KW-14176, of the Nazca Ridge off the coast of Chile. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute Due to our legal status as a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation, no media produced by Schmidt Ocean Institute may be used in attempting to influence legislation or lobbying. Additionally, all visual assets (Images, videos, etc) can only be used as stated by creative commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes. ShareAlike — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ (ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute)

A large bamboo coral holding benthic ctenophores, barnacles, a sea star, and ophiuroids A large bamboo coral holding benthic ctenophores, barnacles, a sea star, and ophiuroids was documented on Dive 696 while exploring a newly discovered and mapped seamount, cataloged as KW-14176, along the Nazca Ridge off the coast of Chile. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute Due to our legal status as a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation, no media produced by Schmidt Ocean Institute may be used in attempting to influence legislation or lobbying. Additionally, all visual assets (Images, videos, etc) can only be used as stated by creative commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes. ShareAlike — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ (ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute)

Squalus mitsukurii The science team documneted this Squalus mitsukurii (Shortspine spurdog) on the seafloor near an unexplored seamount called T12 along the Nazca Ridge off the coast of Chile. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute Due to our legal status as a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation, no media produced by Schmidt Ocean Institute may be used in attempting to influence legislation or lobbying. Additionally, all visual assets (Images, videos, etc) can only be used as stated by creative commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes. ShareAlike — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ (ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute)

Helicolenus lengerichi (Scorpionfish) This Helicolenus lengerichi (Scorpionfish) was documented on Dive 692 while the science team was surveying an unnamed and unexplored seamount (internally designated as T06) along the Nazca Ridge. An international team of scientists is mapping and characterizing biodiversity along this underwater mountain range in the high seas off the coast of South America. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute Due to our legal status as a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation, no media produced by Schmidt Ocean Institute may be used in attempting to influence legislation or lobbying. Additionally, all visual assets (Images, videos, etc) can only be used as stated by creative commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes. ShareAlike — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ (ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute)

A sea urchin in the genus Argopatagus thought to be a new species A sea urchin in the genus Argopatagus - and thought to be a new species - was documented on Dive 695, exploring an unnamed ridge (internally designated Dragon's Back) along the Nazca Ridge off the coast of Chile. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute Due to our legal status as a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation, no media produced by Schmidt Ocean Institute may be used in attempting to influence legislation or lobbying. Additionally, all visual assets (Images, videos, etc) can only be used as stated by creative commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes. ShareAlike — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ (ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute)

August 28, 2024 at 2:05 pm PDT

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