They Uncover a Treasure Trove of Species in Seamounts Near Chile

In Madrid, a team of international scientists have reportedly made an exciting discovery of potentially over 100 new species, residing on seamounts located off the coast of Chile.

The aforementioned discoveries were made during a recent expedition led by the Schmidt Ocean Institute. The institute’s team was spearheaded by Professor Javier Sellanes, who is an esteemed member of the faculty at the Universidad Católica del Norte. The expedition has led to the identification of a wide variety of sea creatures, including deep-sea corals, glass sponges, sea urchins, amphipods, lobsters, and a handful of other species that are likely yet to be documented in scientific literature.

The scientists undertook an exploration of the seamounts situated along the Nazca and Salas y Gómez ridges. These ridges are both within and outside of Chile’s territorial waters. The data collected from these explorations may be instrumental in the establishment of a protected marine area in international waters.

The Salas y Gómez Mountain Range, an underwater mountain chain stretching 2,900 kilometers, is home to over 200 seamounts that extend all the way from the Chilean coast to Rapa Nui, or Easter Island as it is popularly known. Most of this underwater mountain range lies outside the jurisdiction of Chile. Furthermore, the scientists also explored two of Chile’s marine protected areas, namely the Juan Fernández and Nazca-Desventuradas marine parks.

In the course of their expedition, the scientists employed an underwater robot capable of descending to depths of 4,500 meters to gather data from 10 seamounts. The data thus collected will be instrumental in furthering Chile’s marine protection initiatives.

Each seamount boasts unique ecosystems

The scientists discovered that each seamount was home to unique ecosystems, many of them vulnerable. These include thriving deep-sea coral reefs and sponge gardens. The scientists are currently studying the physiology and genetics of specimens they suspect are new to science, in order to confirm whether these are indeed new species.

The experts on board the ship were able to map an impressive 52,777 square kilometers of the seafloor. This led to the discovery of four seamounts within Chilean waters. The highest of these underwater hills, standing at 3,530 meters, was the first to be explored, mapped and unofficially named Usual by the scientific team.

This expedition has far surpassed our expectations. We always hope to discover new species in these remote and underexplored areas, but the number of species we found, particularly among groups like sponges, is absolutely astonishing, Sellanes said in a statement. These thriving and healthy ecosystems are a clear indication that the Nazca-Desventuradas and Juan Fernández marine parks are successfully protecting these delicate marine habitats, he added.

A second expedition along the Cordillera Salas y Gómez began on February 24, aboard the research vessel Falcons. The underwater dives will be broadcasted live on the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s YouTube channel, as scientists explore areas deeper than 600 meters for the first time. The Schmidt Ocean Institute has plans to operate in the Southeast Pacific, exploring the waters off Peru and Chile throughout 2024.