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New record for deepest fish | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A new record has been set for the world's deepest fish. | A new record has been set for the world's deepest fish. |
The bizarre-looking creature, which is new to science, was filmed 8,145m beneath the waves, beating the previous depth record by nearly 500m. | The bizarre-looking creature, which is new to science, was filmed 8,145m beneath the waves, beating the previous depth record by nearly 500m. |
Several other new species of fish were also caught on camera, as well as huge crustaceans called supergiants. | Several other new species of fish were also caught on camera, as well as huge crustaceans called supergiants. |
The animals were discovered during an international expedition to the Mariana Trench, which lies almost 11km down in the Pacific Ocean. | The animals were discovered during an international expedition to the Mariana Trench, which lies almost 11km down in the Pacific Ocean. |
The 30-day voyage took place from the Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel, Falkor, and is the most comprehensive survey of world's deepest place ever undertaken. | The 30-day voyage took place from the Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel, Falkor, and is the most comprehensive survey of world's deepest place ever undertaken. |
The Hadal Ecosystem Studies (Hades) team deployed unmanned landers more than 90 times to depths that ranged between 5,000m and 10,600m. They studied both steep walls of the undersea canyon. | The Hadal Ecosystem Studies (Hades) team deployed unmanned landers more than 90 times to depths that ranged between 5,000m and 10,600m. They studied both steep walls of the undersea canyon. |
Dr Jeff Drazen, co-chief scientist from the University of Hawaii, US, said: "Many studies have rushed to the bottom of the trench, but from an ecological view that is very limiting. | Dr Jeff Drazen, co-chief scientist from the University of Hawaii, US, said: "Many studies have rushed to the bottom of the trench, but from an ecological view that is very limiting. |
"It's like trying to understand a mountain ecosystem by only looking at its summit." | "It's like trying to understand a mountain ecosystem by only looking at its summit." |
The University of Aberdeen's Hadal Lander - the UK's deepest diving vehicle - recorded more than 100 hours of deep-sea footage. | The University of Aberdeen's Hadal Lander - the UK's deepest diving vehicle - recorded more than 100 hours of deep-sea footage. |
Until this expedition, the deepest fish had been found in the Japan Trench, also in the Pacific Ocean. A 17-strong shoal of pink, gelatinous snailfish (Pseudoliparis amblystomopsis) were recorded 7,700m down. | Until this expedition, the deepest fish had been found in the Japan Trench, also in the Pacific Ocean. A 17-strong shoal of pink, gelatinous snailfish (Pseudoliparis amblystomopsis) were recorded 7,700m down. |
Dr Alan Jamieson, from Oceanlab at the University of Aberdeen, said: "After we found these, we started seeing them in other deep trenches. Each trench has its own snailfish species. | Dr Alan Jamieson, from Oceanlab at the University of Aberdeen, said: "After we found these, we started seeing them in other deep trenches. Each trench has its own snailfish species. |
"And we saw one in the Mariana Trench at more than 8,000m, and we think it's a new species." | "And we saw one in the Mariana Trench at more than 8,000m, and we think it's a new species." |
The team thought they had broken the deepest-fish record, but then another pale pink species came to feed at the lander, which is loaded with bait, even further down at 8,145m. | The team thought they had broken the deepest-fish record, but then another pale pink species came to feed at the lander, which is loaded with bait, even further down at 8,145m. |
Dr Jamieson said: "We think it is a snailfish, but it's so weird-looking; it's up in the air in terms of what it is. | Dr Jamieson said: "We think it is a snailfish, but it's so weird-looking; it's up in the air in terms of what it is. |
"It is unbelievably fragile, and when it swims, it looks like it has wet tissue paper floating behind it. | "It is unbelievably fragile, and when it swims, it looks like it has wet tissue paper floating behind it. |
"And it has a weird snout - it looks like a cartoon dog snout." | "And it has a weird snout - it looks like a cartoon dog snout." |
Without catching the fish and bringing it back to the surface, the team is unable to confirm that it is a new species, but Dr Jamieson said it did not look like anything he'd seen before or knew of. | Without catching the fish and bringing it back to the surface, the team is unable to confirm that it is a new species, but Dr Jamieson said it did not look like anything he'd seen before or knew of. |
The new record-breaking creature is close to the depth-limit at which scientists believe fish can survive. | The new record-breaking creature is close to the depth-limit at which scientists believe fish can survive. |
They researchers also captured another bizarre species - supergiants - on camera. | They researchers also captured another bizarre species - supergiants - on camera. |
These creatures are a type of amphipod, which are normally around 2-3cm long. The super-sized version can reach up to 30cm. | These creatures are a type of amphipod, which are normally around 2-3cm long. The super-sized version can reach up to 30cm. |
Dr Jamieson said: "We've got more than 20 hours of footage of them, and we're learning the way they swim, the way they feed and the way they fend off predators. | Dr Jamieson said: "We've got more than 20 hours of footage of them, and we're learning the way they swim, the way they feed and the way they fend off predators. |
"They clamp down on the bait, and bore their head into it and put their spiky tail in the air like a thorn bush. | "They clamp down on the bait, and bore their head into it and put their spiky tail in the air like a thorn bush. |
"Anything that goes for it gets stabbed in the nose." | "Anything that goes for it gets stabbed in the nose." |
The dives made during the expedition were all conducted by unmanned vehicles, but humans have visited the world's deepest place. | The dives made during the expedition were all conducted by unmanned vehicles, but humans have visited the world's deepest place. |
In 1960, US Navy Lt Don Walsh and Swiss oceanographer Jacques Piccard made an incredibly risky journey to the bottom of the Mariana Trench in a bathyscaphe called the Trieste. | In 1960, US Navy Lt Don Walsh and Swiss oceanographer Jacques Piccard made an incredibly risky journey to the bottom of the Mariana Trench in a bathyscaphe called the Trieste. |
And in 2012, Hollywood director James Cameron made a solo descent to the seafloor in his sub called the Deepsea Challenger. | And in 2012, Hollywood director James Cameron made a solo descent to the seafloor in his sub called the Deepsea Challenger. |
He described the place as a desolate, alien world. | He described the place as a desolate, alien world. |
Follow Rebecca on Twitter. | Follow Rebecca on Twitter. |