An international team of researchers during the survey of the Mariana Trench have discovered a new species of fish which resides at the depth of 5 miles.
Mariana trench is the deepest part of the Pacific Ocean and it is virtually impossible for any human to survive in these crushing pressures.
The survey was accomplished using a vehicle built in Aberdeen Scotland for deep sea research named Hadal-Lander. The vehicle is equipped with variety high resolution cameras and scientific instruments. The vehicle is also features a number of small baited funnel traps which is used to trap small animals. The vehicle is robust and can work at depths from 5000 to 10,600 meters. The vehicle has been used 92 times along the Mariana trench.
While scouring the depths, the team at 8145 meters observed a kind of snail fish which was 500 meters deeper than any other fish observed previously.
Dr Alan Jamieson from the University of Aberdeen in a statement, “This really deep fish did not look like anything we had seen before, nor does it look like anything we know of, it is unbelievably fragile, with large wing-like fins and a head resembling a cartoon dog.”
The research team also captured the images of a rare supergiant amphipod which was first discovered in traps off of New Zealand in 2012 but has never before been observed in its natural habitat. Video footage of this extremely large crustacean shows it feeding, swimming and fighting off predators. The expedition also filmed a number of other species and also set a new depth records for three fish family.
Dr Jamieson said, “Knowing these creatures exist is one thing, but to watch them alive in their natural habitat and interacting with other species is truly amazing, we have learnt a great deal.”
The 30 day expedition named Hadal Ecosystem Studies was drawn to study the environments of the deepest area of the ocean, including the ecological, geological environment and animal species. The team included marine biologists, geologists, microbiologists and geneticists.
Dr. Jeff Drazen, co-chief scientist from the University of Hawaii 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. Rarely, do we get a full perspective of the ocean’s unique deep environments. The questions that the scientists will be able to answer following this cruise will pave the way for a better understanding of the deep sea, which is not exempt from human impact.”
