| Scientists documenting marine life in the deepest parts of the oceans say they have identified more than 17,000 species. | |
| Staff working for the Census of Marine Life said the diversity of life in the deep sea was much greater than previously believed. Madeleine Morris reports. Over 17,500 creatures have now been cataloged inhabiting the dark waters below depth of 200 meters where natural life barely penetrates, the majority of them never before seen. As deep as five kilometers below the surface at pressures that would crush unprotected human, scientists found mud teeming with crabs, starfish and corals. Amongst the more unusual finds were two-meter-long cirrate octopod, an eight-limbed creature nicknamed "Dumbo" because of the large elephant ear-like fins it uses to swim. Scientists also saw a jelly fish as long as a blue whale. |
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