Scientists have found a new, predatory ocean creature in the Atacama Trench, one of the world’s most extreme environments. Measuring just 1.57 inches long, the Dulcibella camanchaca is an unusually large amphipod that feeds on smaller sea creatures. This fast-swimming predator was discovered at a depth of 25,900 feet in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
Researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and Chile’s Instituto Milenio de Oceanografía worked together to collect and analyze DNA samples from four specimens. The findings revealed that Dulcibella camanchaca is not only a new species but also a new genus, shedding light on the complex ecosystems of the deep sea.
According to Johanna Weston, a hadal ecologist at WHOI, the discovery highlights the importance of studying the ocean’s deepest zones. “More discoveries are expected as we continue to explore this region,” she noted. The Atacama Trench, spanning 3,666 miles between Chile and Peru, is a critical area for understanding how ecosystems respond to climate change and pollution.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/scientists-discover-species-predatory-ocean-170000443.html