Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in the Atacama Trench, one of the deepest oceanic trenches on Earth. A team of researchers from the US and Chile has identified a new species of amphipod, a type of shrimp-like crustacean, that thrives in the trench’s extreme conditions.
The newly discovered species, named Dulcibella camanchaca, is a fast-swimming predator that can be found at depths of up to 7,902 meters. Its white coloring helps it blend in with the dark environment, and it uses specialized appendages called gnathopods to hunt and eat its prey.
This discovery is significant not only because it sheds light on the unknown life forms in oceanic trenches but also because it highlights the importance of continued deep-ocean exploration. The Atacama Trench, located off South America’s western coast, stretches up to 8 km below the surface and is characterized by extreme pressure and darkness.
The researchers used a lander vehicle to collect specimens from the trench, which were then analyzed using DNA and morphology data. The findings confirmed that Dulcibella camanchaca is not only a new species but also a newly discovered genus.
“This study confirms our ongoing biodiversity discoveries in the Atacama Trench,” said co-lead author Carolina González, an oceanographer from the University of Concepción. “More discoveries are expected as we continue to study this region.”
The discovery of Dulcibella camanchaca is a testament to the awe-inspiring diversity of life on Earth and highlights the need for further exploration of our planet’s most extreme environments.
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Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-discover-new-deep-sea-predator-name-it-darkness