Numerous new ocean species discovered in New Zealand
Scientists in New Zealand have identified nearly 100 "new or potentially new" ocean species following an expedition to the Bounty Trough, located off the country's South Island.
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According to a report by Radio New Zealand (RNZ), an "Ocean Census" team—comprising scientists from New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, along with experts from the UK and Australia—embarked on an expedition in February to discover new species in the Bounty Trough.
The team, which collected around 1,800 samples from the Bounty Trough at a depth of 4,800 meters, reported that their examinations revealed approximately 100 "new or potentially new" ocean species.
The newly discovered species include dozens of mollusks, three fish, a shrimp, and a cephalopod.
Marine biologist Alex Rogers, one of the team leaders, stated that he was impressed by the biodiversity in the region and noted that the number of discovered species is likely to increase, adding, "I think as we work through more of the samples, this number will grow and the total will be in the hundreds rather than 100."