Peeking Into the Unknown

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More than 80 percent of the world’s oceans remain unexplored and the recent discovery of thousands of new deep-sea species offers a glimpse into this unknown world, CBS News reported.

Marine scientists found more than 5,500 different species in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) of the Pacific Ocean, which spans about 3,100 miles in the area between Hawaii and Mexico.

In their study, the researchers wrote that more than 88 percent of the creatures had never been seen before. The most common type of marine animals found in the deep-sea region are arthropods, worms, and sponges – including one that’s carnivorous.

“There’s some just remarkable species down there,” said lead author Muriel Rabone. “Some of the sponges look like classic bath sponges, and some look like vases. They’re just beautiful.”

The findings are remarkable considering that the CCZ is an area with little sunlight and not a lot of food.

The study, meanwhile, is significant because the region is also rich with potato-sized polymetallic nodules, which are a potential mineral resource for copper, nickel, cobalt, iron, manganese, and other rare earth elements.

Many mining companies have been exploring the area for mineral extraction since the 1960s. Meanwhile, ecologists and biologists have been investigating what may be at risk once companies begin mining the area.

“We share this planet with all this amazing biodiversity, and we have a responsibility to understand it and protect it,” noted Rabone.