Nature surprises us again!

A recent marine mission off Chile has led to the discovery of over 100 species that may be new to science. Among the unique creatures found there was a bright red "walking" sea toad, which uses its modified fins to stroll along the ocean floor, a behavior that helps it hunt and conserve energy, according to a new story released by the Schmidt Ocean Institute.

This sea toad has crochet-like skin and googly eyes, making it a remarkable find in the deep sea, and it’s likely a new species of Chaunacops, a genus of deep-sea anglerfish.

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The month-long expedition to the international waters of Nazca Ridge, carried out in early 2024 aboard the research vessel Falkor with the support of the Schmidt Ocean Institute, used a robotic underwater vehicle (ROV) to explore depths beyond 5,000 feet or 1,520 meters.

The ROV livestreamed footage of strange creatures, including glowing organisms, spiny-legged crimson crustaceans, and a life form resembling a living constellation.

The team mapped four previously unknown underwater mountains, or seamounts, in addition to studying six known ones. They discovered that these seamounts are rich in biodiversity (over 1,000 species!), hosting some 150 species found nowhere else.

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Chief scientist Javier Sellanes of the Catholic University of the North in Chile emphasized in a message for the National Geographic that the unique topography of seamounts supports specialized ecosystems, making them akin to "marine oases."

However, only a small fraction of seamounts are protected from threats like commercial fishing and mining.While two of the seamounts studied are already protected, scientists are advocating for broader conservation efforts, as many species living on these seamounts are vulnerable and cannot be found anywhere else.

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Despite the significant number of new species discovered, the researchers believe they have only scratched the surface of what remains hidden in the depths, highlighting the need for further exploration and protection of these critical ecosystems.

The Institute’s video archives contain footage of unparallel beauty filmed by researchers underwater.

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