Ping-Pong Sponges, Dragonfish, And Snailfish Eggs Delight Scientists Exploring The Planet’s Most Remote Trenches

A team of international scientists recently returned from a 35-day expedition to explore the waters of the South Sandwich Islands, one of the most remote island chains in the world, and the ocean oddities to be found there. Far beneath the water’s surface, they discovered thriving polar ecosystems in some of the coldest and most isolated submarine trenches on the planet.

To say it was a success seems like an understatement, with the resulting discoveries including *takes a deep breath* hydrothermal vents, coral gardens, new-to-science species, previously unrecorded behaviors, and world-first footage. The Ocean Census Flagship expedition and GoSouth team of scientists were aboard Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel Falkor (too), and they’re just smitten with the findings.

“This expedition has given us a glimpse into one of the most remote and biologically rich parts of our ocean,” said expedition principal investigator Dr Michelle Taylor in a statement. “This is exactly why the Ocean Census exists — to accelerate our understanding of ocean life before it’s too late. The 35 days at sea were an exciting rollercoaster of scientific discovery; the implications of which will be felt for many years to come as discoveries filter into management action.”

Part of the Nippon Foundation–Nekton Ocean Census programme, the world’s largest initiative to accelerate the discovery of ocean life, the expedition also ticked off the first confirmed sighting of a live juvenile colossal squid.

The potentially new-to-science marine life included corals, sponges, sea cucumbers, snails, sea urchins, benthic ctenophores, and sea stars. The full roster will be unveiled by Ocean Census later this year, but there were also some incredible new animal behavior sightings, including an orb of snailfish eggs that had been laid on black coral. The team also captured the first-ever footage of Akarotaxis aff. gouldae, a species of dragonfish that was discovered two years ago.

It seems the Sandwich Islands have a previously unrecognized fiery side too, as large pumice blocks indicate that the region is capable of explosive volcanic activity. A stark contrast to the freezing cold waters, but just a glimpse into the curious geology of the region where vibrant coral gardens and giant alien sponges chill out next to hydrothermal vents, something we’ve not seen much of elsewhere in the ocean.

“The challenging ocean and weather conditions and the isolated location of the South Sandwich Islands capture the imagination of the boldest explorers — often the closest humans to the vessel were on the International Space Station,” added Schmidt Ocean Institute’s Executive Director, Dr Jyotika Virmani. “We are proud to have collaborated with Ocean Census in their mission to advance the discovery of marine life and GoSouth in their quest to better understand the geological nature of this dynamic corner of the world.”