Ocean Records Reveal 5,000 Newly Discovered Deep-Sea Creatures

Over 5,000 animal species that were previously unknown to science exist in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, a pristine area of the deep sea situated in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and Mexico. This extensive area is twice the size of India, occupying depths of 4,000 to 6,000 metres, and is largely unexplored. Scientists have collated over 100,000 published records of animals discovered in the zone, including some records which date back to the 1870s. The study demonstrates that approximately 90% of the species documented from these records had not been identified earlier, with only 440 species named compared to around 5,100 that did not have scientific names. The majority of the undescribed creatures are worms and arthropods, although other species found include sponges, sea cucumbers and corals, as highlighted in an article published on 25 May in Current Biology.

“The diversity down there does surprise me,” says Muriel Rabone, co-author of the study, data analyst and biologist at the Natural History Museum in London. “It’s just astonishing.”

The Clarion-Clipperton Zone contains a high concentration of minerals like cobalt and nickel, making it an attractive prospect for mining companies. Approximately one sixth of the zone, equivalent to approximately one million square kilometers, has been allocated to companies for exploration.

The new study identified that many of the named species found within the zone are only present there, underscoring the importance of establishing a baseline of biodiversity in the region before mining activity commences, noted Rabone. However, due to its remoteness and depth, data collection in the area can be costly and challenging.

Furthermore, Rabone commented that deep-sea ecosystems are interconnected with those that exist above, such as through nutrient cycling. This emphasises the need for scientists to comprehensively understand the Clarion-Clipperton Zone and similar regions to anticipate the potential impact of mining activity on the broader ocean surface.

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