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Scientists have discovered three new species of "hardcore" fish living in one of the deepest parts of the ocean, the transparent, scaleless creatures, perfectly adapted to the conditions that would instantly kill most beings on Earth.
An international team of researchers used state-of-the-art underwater cameras to find new fish at the bottom of the Atacama Trench in the Eastern Pacific Ocean at a depth of 7,500 meters (24,600 feet). such an inhospitable environment.
"These things are just about what all fish can take, so you could expect to have one or two lives," said Alan Jamieson, a senior lecturer in marine ecology at Newcastle University. AFP Friday.
"But there's a whole lot sitting there."
Pretentially called pink, blue and purple Atacama snails, the hitherto unknown creatures measure 20 to 25 cm long, are translucent and have no scales.
They seem to be uniquely suited to conditions four and a half miles below the surface of the ocean, where the days are permanently black and the water temperature barely reaches 2 ° C (36 ° F).
At such depths, the pressure is so great that the larger animals would be crushed under their own mass.
"It's the equivalent of having a weight of 800 kg placed on your little finger," Jamieson said.
Researchers believe that fish may have evolved to live on the seabed to avoid larger prey.
"The hardest structures of their body are the bones of their inner ear, which gives them a balance and their teeth," said Thomas Linley, a Newcastle associate who participated in the expedition.
In fact, being almost entirely gel-like, the fish would die without the crushing pressure holding them back.
"Their bodies are extremely fragile and melt quickly when they are brought to the surface," said Linley.
The Atacama trench stretches for nearly 6,000 km along the west coast of South America and reaches 8,000 meters.
Jamieson said the team's discovery should give hope to researchers working to discover new species in some of the least explored corners of our planet.
"The discovery of new species is not limited to small amounts of mud or small jellyfish. There are three species of fish about 20 to 25 cm long, "he said.
"The trench of Atacama is the same size as the Andes mountain range. If we can drop a camera and choose three new species in a few days … these things are not uncommon – they are just out of reach.
With more than 300 known varieties of snails, Jamieson said she adapted to a wide variety of conditions, some of which were extremely difficult to survive.
"Most of them live at shallow levels – we even climb them up to the Tyne River in Newcastle. It's an extraordinary family that has evolved to fit all niches, all over the world, "he said.
He nevertheless admitted to being impressed by the newly discovered varieties and their ability to thrive in some of the world's most challenging environments.
"The water temperatures in these trenches are still below 2 ° C – which in itself is rather unmanageable, not to mention the pressure of 800 bar and almost no food," he said.
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