The Schmidt Institute of Oceanology shared the results of the Falkor expedition to the reefs of Western Australia, during which new species of marine animals were discovered (including a 47-meter siphonophore) and a number of creatures that have not been seen in the region before. Samples were found and collected using a SuBastian robot at depths of up to 4500 meters.
Falkor is a research vessel of the Schmidt Institute of Oceanology, on which scientists from different countries study the depths of the waters of Australia and the Pacific Ocean. They are helped in this by the SuBastian robot, which is equipped with a 4K camera, and also knows how to carefully collect, sucking or raking, various samples from a depth of 4500 meters.
SuBastian
Researchers observe a giant siphonophore with a SuBastian camera
Researchers from the Museum of Western Australia led by Nerida Wilson made an expedition on Falkor to Ningala, a coral reef in the Indian Ocean. SuBastian dived 20 times and spent 181 hours. Scientists have discovered and collected creatures, some of which have not been found in the waters of Australia before, and some of which are generally new species - according to scientists, there are up to 30 new species among the collected samples (the exact number will become clear when scientists return to the laboratory, they will carefully study and describe the found instances). After the expedition, some samples will be exhibited at the Museum of Western Australia.
Deep sea creatures discovered and collected during the expedition
One of the most amazing finds is a huge siphonophore of the genus Apolemia. Its length exceeds 45 meters, it is called one of the largest animals on Earth. In fact, it is a colony of thousands of tiny zooids that coalesce and behave like a single organism. Another discovery is another hydroid, red animal with a fan of tentacles, which is attached to the bottom by a stem about a meter long.
Scientists examine a new hydroid with a SuBastian camera
In addition to the siphonophore, scientists have discovered large communities of glass sponges and have also seen the bioluminescent octopus Tanning, sea cucumbers and other molluscs in Western Australia for the first time. Broadcasts from the SuBastian camera and videos of the best moments with comments from researchers are posted on the YouTube channel of the Schmidt Institute.
Pictures from the depths of the oceans are no less beautiful than space views. Therefore, expeditions in which deep-sea inhabitants are investigated always attract attention. If you want some more beauty, check out the creatures found in 2017 during the Sampling the abyss ocean mission or in 2018 in the Gulf of Mexico.