A global initiative called Ocean Census has unveiled the discovery of at least 866 new marine species. Launched in April 2023, this ten-year project aims to protect and expedite the identification of marine life before extinction occurs. The discoveries, made by divers, submersibles, and remotely operated robots, include a variety of creatures, such as the critically endangered guitar shark, a new octocoral found in the Maldives, and a gastropod with venomous teeth from New Caledonia and Vanuatu, which could have medical potential.
Guitar Shark: Identified off Mozambique and Tanzania, only 38 species are known.
Octocoral: Discovered in the Maldives, it's the first recorded there.
Venomous Gastropod: Found in New Caledonia and Vanuatu, it may hold medical potential.
Ocean Census seeks to streamline the species identification process, which currently takes around 14 years. Scientists emphasize that discovering new species is crucial for understanding marine ecosystems and their benefits to the planet.