Researchers have identified a unique predatory amphipod species located near Chile’s coast.
Named Dulcibella camanchaca, this peculiar species was discovered in some of Earth’s deepest oceanic waters.
According to SciTechDaily, this ‘alien-like’ creature is notable for being the first large, active predatory amphipod found in the deep-sea environment.
This amphipod was located in the Atacama Trench, at depths of over 7,900 meters (25,900 feet), and has been categorized within the Eusiridae family, representing a new genus.
The trench, created by tectonic plate collisions, is one of the planet’s deepest, reaching approximately 8,000 meters (26,246 feet) in depth.
The Dulcibella camanchaca was discovered during the Integrated Deep-Ocean Observing System (IDOOS) Expedition last year, with the findings published recently.
Though described as ‘gigantic’, the Dulcibella camanchaca measures just under 4cm. Despite its size, it is larger than similar species and possesses unique features like raptorial appendages known as gnathopods, aiding in its predation.
The expedition aims to enhance understanding of deep-ocean circulation and mixing in the eastern South Pacific, focusing on the Atacama Trench, as well as the nature and dynamics of particle flux in the hadal zone, as detailed on the Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean website.
The discovery was made by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and Instituto Milenio de Oceanografía (IMO) during an expedition projected to continue for at least five years.
Dr. Johanna Weston, a hadal ecologist at WHOI and co-lead author of the study, commented on the discovery: “Dulcibella camanchaca is a fast-swimming predator that we named after ‘darkness’ in the languages of the peoples from the Andes region to signify the deep, dark ocean from where it predates.”
Carolina González, an oceanographer at the University of Concepción and co-lead author, noted: “This study’s collaborative effort and integrative approach confirmed Dulcibella camanchaca as a new species and highlights ongoing biodiversity discoveries in the Atacama Trench.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eycgMM030M
As the expedition continues, González anticipates ‘more discoveries.’
Scientists are also eager to learn how threats such as pollution and climate change are impacting ecosystems like the one in the Atacama Trench.