Chile: a hundred marine species discovered during an expedition

2024-03-08T20:47:21.330Z

Highlights: The discovery was made during an expedition organized by the Schmidt Ocean Institute and the Catholic University of Northern Chile. Scientists set out to explore an area, located between the Chilean coast and Easter Island, which had never really been studied before. In these underwater settings, so far little explored, they found glass sponges, corals, sea urchins, crustaceans, and even lobsters. All samples were taken using a robot. They will now be analyzed. This will confirm that these are indeed unknown species.

Scientists have discovered around a hundred previously unknown marine species in the Pacific Ocean. Scientists set out to explore an area, located between the Chilean coasts…

Chile: a hundred marine species discovered during an expedition

Scientists have discovered around a hundred previously unknown marine species in the Pacific Ocean.

Scientists set out to explore an area, located between the Chilean coast and Easter Island, which had never really been studied before.

The scientists on this expedition have undoubtedly discovered a biological treasure.

(illustrative photo) Reuters

By: RFI Follow

The discovery was made during an expedition organized by the Schmidt Ocean Institute and the Catholic University of Northern

Chile

, which ended in mid-February.

The scientists on this expedition have undoubtedly discovered a

biological

treasure , hidden in the seamounts of Chile and in the Juan Fernandez and Nazca-Desventuradas parks.

In these underwater settings, so far little explored, they found glass sponges, corals, sea urchins, crustaceans, and even lobsters.

All samples were taken using a robot.

They will now be analyzed.

This will confirm that these are indeed unknown species.

A second expedition in progress

Analyzes could take several years.

Scientists are already counting on at least 100 new marine specimens.

And again, this is only a first harvest.

A second expedition is underway.

While it is not uncommon to make such discoveries when exploring remote areas, finding this many is exceptional.

But be careful, warn the members of this expedition.

Most of the species identified are fragile.

They therefore demand that the “

small oases of biodiversity

”, in which they live, be preserved.

They also call for the creation of an internationally protected high seas marine zone.

Also read: Bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia: “A sort of divorce between the algae and the coral”

Chile: a hundred marine species discovered during an expedition

Chile: a hundred marine species discovered during an expedition

A second expedition in progress

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