by Tom Hale
April 12, 2024
Introduction:
Read more of the IFL Science article here: https://www.iflscience.com/over-50-unk ... ui-73786(IFL Science) Dozens of new species have been discovered along the Salas y Gómez Ridge off the coast of Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, the remote Pacific island famous for its giant stone moai human statues. Among the never-before-seen critters found here were squid, fish, corals, mollusks, sea stars, glass sponges, sea urchins, crabs, and squat lobsters.
They were discovered during a recent expedition by the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s R/V Falkor (too), which is currently surveying the underwater environment within the Pacific Ocean deep off Chile's coastline.
At the Salas y Gómez Ridge, part of a chain of 110 volcanic seamounts, the team identified 160 different species, at least 50 of which are thought to be new to science.
“The observation of distinct ecosystems on individual seamounts highlights the importance of protecting the entire ridge, not just a few seamounts,” Dr Erin E Easton, Chief Scientist at Schmidt and Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, said in a statement.
Read Dr. Erin E Easton’s statement here: https://schmidtocean.org/scientists-fi ... eamounts/