Science

Incredible Photos of Deep-Sea Life Found Near South Pacific Mountains and Canyons

Scientists with New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research traversed 3,800 square miles of “never before seen” mountains and canyons — all under 700 to 1,500 feet of water.

The research evaluated the stretch of underwater terrain in four deep-sea regions of the Kermadec Ridge in the South Pacific. The point was to take stock of the sea creatures below to understand how human activity could affect what was down there, according to National Geographic.

“In order to ensure that deep-sea ecosystems do not suffer too much damage from things like bottom trawling or mineral extraction, we need to know what animals occur there, and how vulnerable they are to impact,” Malcomb Clark wrote to National Geographic.

Here are some photos of what they discovered below the depths:

New Zealand Scientists Study Kermadec Ridge and Return With Photos and Video of Deep Sea Organisms

Sea slug (Photo: NIWA via National Geographic)

New Zealand Scientists Study Kermadec Ridge and Return With Photos and Video of Deep Sea Organisms

Tonguefish -- notice it has both eyes on one side. (Photo: NIWA via National Geographic)

New Zealand Scientists Study Kermadec Ridge and Return With Photos and Video of Deep Sea Organisms

Squat lobster. (Photo: NIWA via National Geographic)

New Zealand Scientists Study Kermadec Ridge and Return With Photos and Video of Deep Sea Organisms

This squid is commonly called the Mickey Mouse squid. (Photo: NIWA via National Geographic)

New Zealand Scientists Study Kermadec Ridge and Return With Photos and Video of Deep Sea Organisms

Crown jellyfish (Photo: NIWA via National Geographic)

With 50 different underwater volcanos along the ridge, according to the press release, there are a diverse number of habitats for life on hydrothermal vents or on peaks and valleys.

“The benthic community on Tangaroa seamount, a combination of mussels and barnacles and shrimps, isn’t unique, but differs from that found on a number of neighbouring seamounts. The seamount communities were also very different from those we observed and sampled on the slope and canyons, which typically had muddy seafloor, rather than rocks.

“This trip confirmed our working hypothesis that the environments generated in these different deep-sea habitats vary in their characteristics, and they result in faunal communities that can differ, within close proximity,” Clark said in a statement. “The implication is that the exploitation of one seamount could have an effect that is not the same as the seamount close by,” says Dr Clark.

This video shows a slideshow of images of species collected:

With thousands of samples collected, Clark said there is the expectation they will identify some new species as they continue to research the specimens.

See more photos of the creatures found on the expedition here.

Comments (56)

  • DGuy
    Posted on June 16, 2012 at 10:02pm

    I like a little oil on my shrimp… Yummy!

    Report Post »  
  • Inlandmar2
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 8:53pm

    If Obama had a sea creature…It would look like this.

    Report Post » Inlandmar2  
  • hazmat_factor
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 8:26pm

    LOOK AT THESE DEEP SEA CREATURES…NEVER BEFORE SEEN BY THE EYES OF MAN…STEP RIGHT UP!

    hey did you know our economy SUCKS! Our, excuse me, the so called POTUS is a coward, liar, and is walking on the ideals/laws/history/constitution of our country, the USA…TRULY EXCEPTIONAL!!!

    Report Post » hazmat_factor  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on June 16, 2012 at 5:18pm

      But these sea creature somehow live without food stamps, no taxes & Obama

      Report Post » RepubliCorp  
  • myway
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 6:43pm

    But, can they vote?

    Report Post » myway  
    • Southernsoul
      Posted on June 16, 2012 at 1:43pm

      No they can’t vote yet, but they will be able to get temporary work permits. Thanks O

      Report Post » Southernsoul  
  • SurhanSurhan
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 6:22pm

    Allahu Akbar! Allah creates whatever he wishes to create. When He has decreed a matter, He only has to say to it be and it is. He does not need to beget.

    Report Post »  
    • hazmat_factor
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 7:46pm

      @stupemanstupeman

      allah is a wuss. keep silent before your betters!

      Report Post » hazmat_factor  
  • RightPolitically
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 6:15pm

    Sure ain’t pretty.

    Report Post » RightPolitically  
  • Rayblue
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 4:06pm

    Looks like Cooties….

    Report Post » Rayblue  
    • smokeysmoke
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 4:21pm

      think this life lives with…. very close to 0 oxygen…. or light… and under intense pressure… some organizisms found at deep sea volcanic vents feed off of minerals and sulfur that are ejected from the earths crust….. THINK that if life can live under these conditions, where else around the universe, and on what planets that we may consider hostile, that life could flourish

      Report Post » smokeysmoke  
    • Rayblue
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 6:48pm

      I believe there are giant crawdads on the moon.
      But I also believe that the moon is a hoax.

      Report Post » Rayblue  
    • NateHammer
      Posted on June 18, 2012 at 12:40am

      But wait a minute……I thought that all of our evil human activity was destroying the planet and wiping out multiple species of plants and animals at record levels! How could could we possibly be discovering so many new species every few weeks or so? The Enviro-kooks had better come up with a way to supress this information immediately!

      Report Post »  
  • Seagal45
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 3:12pm

    Weird critters and a waste of money.

    Report Post »  
  • rickc34
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 2:03pm

    Wow pretty cool going down that deep to see more of Gods creations. But I think. A waste of resources that could be used up here to help those that truly need it. Able to go down 70 to 150 atomoshperes is cool but at what cost? Its like spending billions going into space for what. Hey don’t get me wrong I love science when it helps man by finding cures or mechanical limbs or spinal repair or plants that grow despite lack of rain you know useful things. Being a good steward of all that God has given.

    Report Post »  
    • Minerva111
      Posted on June 16, 2012 at 2:05pm

      I do not think that it is advisable to say that these discoveries are worthless. They have just been discovered and not much is understood about them, and for all we know they could end up being incredible beneficial. They could hold the key to solving many problems. Heck, these animals live in some of the most extreme conditions on the planet, and because of that is seems possible that we can learn something about them. I do not think we should pass judgement on something, or declare it useful or not, without understanding it. Doesn’t that make sense?

      Report Post »  
    • bluegrandma52
      Posted on June 17, 2012 at 2:45pm

      I think that’s what the scientists are trying to do–be good stewards. It’s hard to protect and care for something you know nothing about. This is an area of the ocean never studied before, and it is good to get a benchmark reading of the life and ecosystem there before it gets changed or destroyed by a catastrophic event, whether man- or nature-made. Whether or not we as a species gets any short-term benefit from the information gathered is irrelevant. Knowing about this area can help us in our studies of other areas of the ocean that impact us more directly.

      Report Post »  
  • RedManBlueState
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:19pm

    Who cares? None of them look very tasty.

    Report Post » RedManBlueState  
    • geomann
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:31pm

      Oh, i don’t know. I could eat a bunch of those squat lobsters.

      Report Post »  
    • Tifn8r
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 2:13pm

      I’ve always wondered…. How exactly could you cook something that lives in/near/on a boiling hot vent in the ocean? It would laugh in the face of a lobster pot or a pressure cooker.

      Tifn8r  
    • hazmat_factor
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 8:29pm

      @TIFN8R

      Good One!

      Report Post » hazmat_factor  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 12:54pm

    Neat pictures but I am more concerned with ‘life’ or the lack of living well under obama’s tyranny.

    Report Post »  
    • THX-1138
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:50pm

      Obama will come and go, and so will we, and these guys will have never even noticed.

      Report Post » THX-1138  
  • Patriot760
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 12:48pm

    If these are from “never before seen” depths, how can the squid shown be “commonly called” the “Mickey Mouse Squid”?

     
    • mindsend
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:48pm

      They never said the creatures hadn’t been seen, they said the mountains and canyons hadn’t been seen.

      Report Post »  
    • Locked
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:53pm

      @Patriot760

      “If these are from “never before seen” depths, how can the squid shown be “commonly called” the “Mickey Mouse Squid”?”

      This specific area hasn’t been explored before, but the species have been found in other locations. As the article says:

      “With thousands of samples collected, Clark said there is the expectation they will identify some new species as they continue to research the specimens.”

      Report Post »  
    • Balok
      Posted on June 16, 2012 at 5:09am

      I’ve seen a mountain ;)

      Report Post » Balok  
  • RedDirtTexas
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 12:47pm

    The toungfish looks like a flounder relative. Looks kinda boney though.

    Report Post » RedDirtTexas  
  • chameleonx
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 12:43pm

    More proof for evolution!

    Report Post »  
  • TH30PH1LUS
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 12:42pm

    Isn’t it amazing how our planet is not just the only planet we have observed capable of supporting life – but that it literally is jam-packed from top to bottom with every variety of complex and amazing creatures imaginable?

    Report Post » TH30PH1LUS  
  • broker0101
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 12:41pm

    The Squat Lobster looks (and sounds) delicious!

    Report Post » broker0101  
    • RedManBlueState
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:20pm

      You have obviously never had a Maine lobster. makes a squat lobster look, well, SQUAT!

      Report Post » RedManBlueState  
  • YourVoiceMatters
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 12:40pm

    gee did they find any oil oozing out by those vents like they do in the north Atlantic?
    that no one seems to talk about anymore…
    possibly because it might prove the Earth produces oil…
    hmm hmm hmm nasty business the Earth excretes oil…
    sorry my sardonic side erupted temporarily….
    sure wonderous hidden things transport us from our sad sack exsistence under obama!
    their beauty offsets obama’s ugly divisiveness…and
    they of course are free of him on all accounts!

    Report Post »  
    • Wayner
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:12pm

      Give the EPA a chance and they’ll declare that using anything other than hand tools and mules to alleviate Tombstone, Arizona’s water shortage problems will threaten these South Pacific sea creatures, causing an imbalance that will threaten mankind.

      Report Post »  
    • cknapp
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:59pm

      Look up the term “abiotic petroleum”. How much biomass had to decay to produce the high volume of petroleum we pump out of the ground daily? Why are formerly non-productive oil fields becoming productive again…are they re-filling? What if petroleum, hydrocarbons are a by-product of either sublimation (intense heat and pressure as continents move and collide) OR are naturally “cracked” inside the Earth’s mantle and arise towards the surface until trapped by “cap rock”? Initially, petroleum was found with evidence of fossilized orgranic material, but name me a place on Earth that does not have life….sulfer vents on the ocean floor, Arctic, mountain tops, etc., perhaps petroleum was discovered with evidence of fossilized organic life not because it produced the petroleum, but because you cannot dig anywhere without finding signs of life!

      I do not believe enough life ever existed to make this much petroleum. Ever see a d3ad cow decay in the sun, not much fluid left after a month or two.

      This would make the whole “running out of oil game” a bit of a sham wouldn’t it?

      Craig Knapp
      anonymous posting is for wimps
      craig dot knapp1 at yohoo dat cam

      Report Post »  
    • Jenny Lind
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 2:28pm

      Craig-nice to meet you,and thank you and the others for information. I enjoy learning about the earth we live on. I have spent 66(alost 67) years on this beautifull planet, and have learned much in my gardens and ponds. I love all of nature and am constantly amazed at it all. I think the earth is quite capable of selfcleaning with just a bit of care on our part. I remember walking the beaches where I grew up and there was sometimes some oil on it. A few weeks would go by and it would be gone. Best example is a home made pond (I currently have three), if you balance fish, plants and a growing medium plus small rock and a recirculating pump, it will balance out in a very short time,and algae will be at a minimun. The fish take care of mosquito larvae, and need little feeding-nature works! We have all learned to be more respectfull, and that is good. To put nature over man is not. We are stewards, and “the earth is for man and everything in it”. I have never believed oil comes from dinasors, there would have had to be gazillions of them.

      Report Post »  
  • mullet
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 12:39pm

    Its amazing those photos could survive in such a harsh environment! I wonder if they needed to restore them at all to make them look so good.

    Report Post » mullet  
  • AngelAuthor
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 12:39pm

    For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving
    ~I Timothy 4:4

    Report Post »  
    • Altair
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 12:48pm

      I don’t think Timothy ever met the Obamas.

      Report Post »  
  • 2SENSEWORTH
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 12:30pm

    Creation.

    Report Post » 2SENSEWORTH  
  • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 12:25pm

    One would have to have very, very large amounts of pollutants to even make a small impact on sea life everywhere. The sheer volume of water in the oceans is what keeps large-scale pollution in check. The only places impacted will be at and near the dumping sites.

    Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • dont tread
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 12:33pm

      or very small increases in temperature

      Report Post »  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 7:42pm

      One would have to have very, very large amounts of pollutants to even make a small impact on ocean life everywhere. It would take much less to have a huge impact on sea life. Seas are the relatively shallow areas on top of the continental shelves. If we don’t put limits on pollution, the seas will all be near the dumping sites.

      Report Post »  
    • Minerva111
      Posted on June 16, 2012 at 2:15pm

      Yes, but a lot of pollution has been dumped into the oceans. Current literature is just now showing that there might be too much pollution. Unlike what many people thing, the oceans are not an inexhaustible resource. They have limitations and boundaries that are being pushed as human need and consumption increase at an unsustainable rate.

      Report Post »  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 12:25pm

    Interesting; and now the eco terrorists will use it as one more excuse to torch the nation.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • vox_populi
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 2:04pm

      Snowleopard, I’m telling you, you’ve got to come up with some new material.

      Report Post » vox_populi  
  • Bruce P.
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 12:20pm

    Science!

    Report Post » Bruce P.  

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