They discover a mysterious creature in the depths of the sea

A team of New Zealand researchers has made a discovery Rare and “mysterious” marine invertebrate species at depths greater than 3,500 metres. The discovery was made during a three-week expedition led by experts from the New Zealand National Institute of Water and Atmosphere Research (NIWA) in the Bounty Underwater Trench, located east of the South Island, which extends for 800 kilometers.

The strange creature, which scientists initially baptized with the name “The Thing”, could not initially be identified, despite the fact that many renowned experts were traveling on the ship.,

“It looked like a starfish, but we thought it could also be a sea anemone or an octocoral,” Sadie Mills, NIWA marine biologist and head of the expedition, explained in a statement from the scientific unit sent to EFE this Thursday. Initial DNA testing revealed no apparent similarity to any previously known organism.

However, subsequent genetic studies revealed 98.9% matches the abyssal ascidian or sea ember called Oligotrema lyraThis identification was confirmed by NIWA taxonomist Mike Page.

Although the species Oligotrema lyra was already known to science, This is the first time its presence has been recorded in New Zealand waters.“It is surprising that genetics has helped us solve the mystery. “We actually had two specimens, but it turned out they were both parts of a whole creature, which surprised us because we weren’t seeing the whole picture,” Sadie said.

Sea squirts, which can contract their siphons and expel water when disturbed, are common in this maritime country’s coastal waters and in the depths of the continental shelf. The discovery is part of a global project promoted by the Nippon Foundation and the British Ocean Exploration Foundation Nekton, which seeks Accelerating the exploration and conservation of marine biodiversityWithin the framework of the United Nations Oceans Decade Programme.