They cover almost 70 percent of our planet’s surface.
But Earth’s oceans are largely unexplored, with 95 percent of our water still a mystery.
Now, scientists have tried to go to the Nazca Ridge, where they found a huge underwater mountain.
The seamount is more than 1.9 miles high – a third the height of Mount Everest – and is home to at least 20 species that have never been seen before.
The incredible footage provides glimpses of the creatures, including sea toads, the flying spaghetti monster, and Casper the octopus.
Scientists have tried to go to the Nazca Ridge, where they discovered a huge underwater mountain.
The seamount is more than 1.9 miles high – a third the height of Mount Everest – and is home to at least 20 species that have never been seen before. Image: sea toad
The incredible footage provides glimpses of the creatures, including sea toads, the flying spaghetti monster (pictured), and Casper the octopus.
The new seamount was discovered by a team of oceanographers from the Schmidt Ocean Institute while exploring the Nazca Ridge – an underwater mountain chain 900 miles off the coast of Chile.
Using an underwater robot, the team was able to map a huge mountain, and film some life flourishing there.
A pristine coral garden was discovered measuring around 800 square meters – roughly the size of three tennis courts.
These deep-sea reefs are found to be shelters for a variety of unusual organisms, including rockfish, brittle stars, and king crabs.
The new seamount was discovered by a team of oceanographers from the Schmidt Ocean Institute while exploring the Nazca Ridge – an underwater mountain chain 900 miles off the coast of Chile. Image: new species of scorpionfish
Using an underwater robot, the team was able to map a huge mountain, and film some life flourishing there. Image: deep starfish
A pristine coral garden was discovered measuring 800 square meters – roughly the size of three tennis courts. Image: Casper the octopus
The team also took the first camera footage of a live Promachoteuthis squid.
This genus is so rare that only three species have been described based on only a few specimens collected, some from the late 1800s.
Other strange creatures recorded by the robot include Casper the octopus, and two ‘flying spaghetti monsters’.
This expedition is the third this year undertaken in the area, with the previous two expeditions recording more than 150 new species.
“After completing our third expedition to the area, we have explored around 25 seamounts in the Nazca and Salas y Gómez Ridges,” said Tomer Ketter, Co-Chief Scientist and Schmidt Ocean Institute Marine Technician.
Deep-sea reefs have been found to provide shelter for a variety of unusual organisms, including rockfish, brittle stars, and king crabs (pictured)
The team also captured the first live camera footage of the Promachoteuthis squid (pictured)
This expedition is the third this year undertaken in the area, with the previous two expeditions recording more than 150 new species. Image: Poliopogon sponge with shrimp
Before the Schmidt Ocean Institute expedition, this part of the Pacific Ocean was known to be home to 1,019 species. Today, that number exceeds 1,300 — and growing. Image: tripod fish
“Our findings highlight the incredible diversity of ecosystems, and simultaneously open gaps in our understanding of how seamount ecosystems are interconnected.
‘We hope the data collected from the expedition will help inform future policy, preserving this clean environment for future generations.’
Before the Schmidt Ocean Institute expedition, this part of the Pacific Ocean was known to be home to 1,019 species.
Today, that number exceeds 1,300 — and growing.
‘The mountains of the South-East Pacific host an incredible biodiversity, with species found nowhere else,’ said Professor Alex David Rogers, Director of Marine Census Science.
Researchers hope the findings will help solve some of the hidden mysteries of the unexplored ocean. Image: golden coral with squat lobsters and starfish
The science team recorded this Squalus mitsukurii (Shortspine spurdog) on the sea floor near an unexplored seamount.
A squat lobster in the genus Sternostylus – considered a newly identified species – was documented by an underwater robot.
“The work carried out by taxonomists on board Falkor (also), supported by the Schmidt Ocean Institute team, will increase our understanding of the distribution of extraordinary life forms in these underwater mountains, including some that have never been mapped or seen before by human eyes .’
Researchers hope the findings will help unravel some of the hidden mysteries of the unexplored ocean.
“The discovery of a new seamount nearly 2 miles high – almost four times taller than the Burj Khalifa – with a very vibrant ecosystem,” said Dr Jyotika Virmani, Co-Chief Scientist and Executive Director of the Schmidt Ocean Institute.
‘Only 26% of the seafloor has been mapped to this high resolution and every expedition in Falkor (also) brings into focus a little more of the unknown seas and life on our home planet.’
