Hundreds of New Marine Species Discovered in Australia
Australian scientists have made an exciting discovery in the oceans, just off southern Australia.
The CSIRO scientists have discovered 338 marine species previously unknown to science in the southern ocean, just off southern Australia.
They also found 86 species previously unknown in Australian waters and 242 previously studied species.
The discovery resulted from a project to monitor the Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network off southern Tasmania, Australia.
The CSIRO scientists worked with Geoscience Australia, Museum Victoria, and the Queensland Museum to analyze the findings.
The research also resulted in the discovery of a further 80 seamounts (underwater mountains). This brings the total number of known seamounts in the region to 144, which makes it the highest concentration of seamounts in Australian waters.
Most of the seamounts are actually extinct volcanoes. Some are up to 25 kilometers across at the base, and rise 200 to 500 meters from the seabed.
They also discovered 145 under sea canyons, bringing the total in the region to at least 276.
So, in summary, they discovered:
- 338 marine species previously unknown to science
- 86 species previously unknown in Australian waters
- 80 previously undiscovered seamounts
- 145 under sea canyons
The discovery is a result of seafloor sampling, taken in November 2006 and April 2007, as well as two surveys undertaken using multibeam sonar and underwater video transects.
Tags: australia, CSIRO, marine life, new species, seamounts
