866 New Marine Species Discovered, Unveiling Ocean’s Hidden Wonders

A recent study has revealed the discovery of 866 new marine species, including a guitar-shaped shark, a fan-like coral, and a venomous deep-sea snail with harpoon-like teeth, Anadolu Agency reported. These species were identified through divers, piloted submersibles, and remotely operated vehicles during 10 ocean expeditions, as part of the Ocean Census initiative, which focuses on protecting marine life.

Michelle Taylor, a coral expert at the University of Essex, noted that only about 10% of marine species have been discovered. The new species were found at depths ranging from 3 feet to 3.1 miles, analyzed by over 800 researchers from 400 institutions.

Among the notable finds is an elegant octocoral from the Maldives and the guitar shark near Mozambique and Tanzania. A separate expedition in the Norwegian-Greenland Sea discovered a limpet and a sea star at depths of 10,000 feet. New technologies like genetic sequencing aid in identification, but many discoveries remain unnamed as the project aims to identify 100,000 species in a decade.