Maritime researchers uncover novel snailfish species, captured on video, at an astounding depth of 3,268 meters in the ocean.

In the depths of the ocean, a team of scientists, led by Mackenzie Gerringer from SUNY Geneseo, has made a remarkable discovery. Three new species of snailfish, the bumpy snailfish, the dark snailfish, and the sleek snailfish, have been found thousands of meters below the ocean surface.

The study, published in the journal Ichthyology & Herpetology, reveals these fascinating creatures belong to the family Liparidae and can inhabit a variety of habitats, from shallow tidal pools to the deepest depths of the ocean.

The bumpy snailfish, remarkably adorable compared to other deep-sea creatures, was discovered in 2019. It is pinkish in colour, and its dextrous pectoral fin rays are important for its active and graceful movements. The dark snailfish and the sleek snailfish, both of which are black, were collected from the same location, on the same dive.

These new species join over 400 known species of snailfish across the globe, some of which are the deepest-dwelling fish known to science. Snailfishes share a similar body plan with a big head and a jelly-like body, which likely helps them survive under extreme conditions.

In the depths where these snailfish reside, colour becomes less important for hiding. Instead, they likely sense each other and their environment using other means, such as picking up vibrations in the water and smelling and tasting their surroundings. Some snailfishes hitchhike on larger animals using suction pads on their bellies, while others cling to rocks and curl up like a snail.

The discovery of these fragile species thriving in deep-sea habitats highlights the beauty of the deep sea and our responsibility to understand and protect these ecosystems. Gerringer believes that this discovery underscores how much we still have to learn about our planet.

The team of scientists working with the Monterey Bay Research Institute and Aquarium (MBARI) has brought these new species to the surface through photos and videos. The study was also supported by the Senckenberg Research Institute and the Alfred Wegener Institute. Gerringer's work has brought him closer to understanding how snailfishes are able to survive under such extreme conditions, and he finds them incredible.

Gerringer's love for snailfishes is evident in his work, and he hopes that this discovery will inspire others to learn more about these fascinating creatures and the deep sea ecosystems they inhabit.

Maritime researchers uncover novel snailfish species, captured on video, at an astounding depth of 3,268 meters in the ocean.