[ad_1]
Scientists have deployed baited photographic traps in the southeastern Pacific Ocean to explore the Atacama Pit. They discovered that the trench was teeming with life and also discovered three new species identified as variants of the gelatinous mollusc. ( University of Newcastle | Youtube )
Scientists have discovered three new species of fish in the Atacama Trough, considered one of the deepest parts of the Pacific Ocean, 7 miles below the surface, off Chile and Peru.
The three new species have been identified as variants of the mollusc, a weird species of fish among the few able to survive in deep water conditions.
Scientists explore the Atacama trench of the Pacific Ocean
An international team of researchers has explored the Atacama Pit, known for its freezing cold and extreme pressures at depths of nearly 25,000 feet. They deployed baited photo traps in the southeastern Pacific Ocean to try to uncover some of the trench's mysteries while they recorded over 100 hours of footage.
Scientists surprisingly discovered that the Atacama trench was teeming with life, as different types of creatures flocked around the bait surrounding their cameras.
Among the creatures that scientists observed were the rarely seen long-legged isopods, called Munnopsids, as well as three new fish species.
Three new types of snailfish discovered
Scientists have discovered what is currently called Atacama pink, blue and purple snail fish. The images taken by the scientists' cameras showed that the three new fish species ate the small crustaceans attracted by the bait.
Thomas Linley, a marine biologist at Newcastle University, said most expeditions were discovering new deep-sea species, but three new species at a time were new to him.
Linley described the new snail as "surprisingly active" while living in the Atacama trench, with no scales, no small eyes and no gelatinous body. In the deep sea, snail fish are free from predators and competitors and their bodies are well adapted to live under extreme pressure. They are also very different from what most people think of as deep water fish because they do not have any threatening frames or giant teeth.
Snail fish, if they are brought to the surface where the pressure is normal and the higher temperatures, will melt quickly. The researchers, however, managed to bring a specimen to the surface relatively intact. The remains of the cod have been preserved and are being analyzed.
The findings of 40 scientists from 17 countries will be presented at the Challenger conference at Newcastle University. By revealing more information about the creatures that live in the Atacama trench, we hope that scientists will be able to protect them from the destruction caused by human activities.
See now: 30 gadgets and technical gifts for Father's Day 2018
8 2018 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
[ad_2]
Source link
