Deep-Sea Mountains Off The Coast Of Chile Are Teeming With Life

[Judi Lynn]

7. 'Mind-Blowing': Scientists Discover Over 100 New Species in Undersea Mountain Range in Chile

Story by Samyarup Chowdhury • 19h

An international team of scientists from the Schmidt Ocean Institute discovered over 100 new marine species in a massive undersea mountain range off the coast of Chile.

Knewz.com has learned that the scientists also found four undersea mountains in the range that were previously not known to scientists.

A deep-sea expedition off the coast of Chile has uncovered a treasure trove of scientific wonders, including more than 100 previously unknown marine species and a handful of never-before-seen underwater mountains — the largest of which is around four times the size of the world's tallest building.

Incredible photos and video footage of the underwater landscape also showcase a menagerie of deep-sea weirdos, including intricate sponges, spiraling corals, a beady-eye lobster, a bizarre stack of oblong sea urchins and a bright red "sea toad" with hands for fins.

Between Jan. 8 and Feb. 11, researchers on board the Schmidt Ocean Institute's (SOI) research vessel Falkor (too) explored the seafloor off the coast of Chile. The expedition, named "Seamounts of the Southeast Pacific," focused on underwater mountains, or seamounts, in three main areas: the Nazca and Salas y Gómez ridges — two chains of more than 200 seamounts that stretch a combined 1,800 miles (2,900 kilometers) from Chile to Easter Island (also known as Rapa Nui); as well as the Juan Fernández and Nazca-Desventuradas marine parks.

More:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/mind-blowing-scientists-discover-over-100-new-species-in-undersea-mountain-range-in-chile/ar-BB1iPvUc